title: Radiofrequency ablation of liver tumors: experience with open and percutaneous approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), a thermal coagulation technique, has been used for ablation of primary and secondary liver tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a 24-month period, 41 patients, including 20 with hepatocellular cancer (HCC), 14 with liver metastases from colorectal tumors and 7 with metastases from other tumors, underwent RFA in our institution. Ablation was done using intra-operative (n=27) or percutaneous ultrasonographic (n=14) guidance. A zone of ablation larger than the size of the lesion on CT scan indicated successful RFA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean size of lesions was 4.9 cm for HCC and 3.1 cm for metastases. Among 20 patients with HCC, 16 had complete tumor ablation and one had failure of localization. All patients with liver metastases had successful tumor ablation. There was no procedure-related death. Two patients had hemoperitoneum and one experienced skin burn. During a median follow up of 16 months, five patients with HCC and two with colorectal metastases died. One patient had tumor recurrence at the ablation site and two developed fresh solitary metastatic lesions; all three are disease-free after repeat ablation treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RFA is a safe and promising technique for the treatment of non-resectable HCC and liver metastases, in the short term.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Lilavati Hospital and Research Center, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Deepak G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Chhabra
authors.forename: Rajiv C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Vipul
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Parikh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jagannath
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications