title: Radiofrequency-ablation of unresectable primary and secondary liver tumors: results in 88 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Radiofrequency-ablation (RFA) is increasingly used for destruction of unresectable primary and secondary liver tumors. We report our experience in the use of RFA for the management of unresectable hepatic malignancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between February 2000 and December 2004 we have undertaken 120 RFA procedures to ablate 426 unresectable primary or metastatic liver tumors in 88 patients. RFA was performed via laparotomy (n=68), laparoscopy (n=9) or a percutaneous approach (n=43). Primary liver cancer was treated in seven patients (8%) and metastatic liver tumors were treated in 81 patients (92%). All patients were followed to assess complications, treatment response and recurrence of malignant disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Procedure-related complication rate was low (3.4%). During a mean follow-up of 21.2 months, 15 patients had local tumor progression (17%), 21 patients (23.9%) had new malignant disease and 27 patients (30.7%) died from intervention-unrelated complications of their malignant disease. Additional liver lesions were identified in 27 (35%) of 77 cases by intraoperative ultrasound. Thirty-six patients received simultaneous resection and RFA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RFA is a safe, well-tolerated and effective treatment for patients with unresectable primary and secondary liver malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, D-23538, Luebeck, Germany. philipphildebrand@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hildebrand
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kleemann
authors.forename: Uwe J
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: Roblick
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mirow
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Birth
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leibecke
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Bruch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome