External beam radiotherapy to treat intra- and extra-hepatic dissemination of hepatocellular carcinoma after radiofrequency thermal ablation.
BACKGROUND
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an alternative to percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) for single non-surgical hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the risk of seeding along the needle track has been reported.


METHODS
Seven patients presenting with neoplastic seeding after RFA or PEIT were treated with external beam radiotherapy using conventional fractionation. All patients underwent irradiation with a total dose in the range of 44-61 Gy (median and mode value: 50 Gy).


RESULTS
An objective response to treatment was achieved in six of seven patients (86%). A complete response was obtained in two patients (29%). The median survival time was 14.7 months and the actuarial 1- and 2-year survivals were 67% and 50%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The response to treatment was relatively good without serious complications. Seeding from hepatocellular carcinoma is sensitive to external beam radiotherapy. It is useful in the treatment of these patients with 50 Gy in 25 fractions.
Yamashita
Hideomi
H
Department of Radiology, University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. yamashitah-rad@h.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Nakagawa
Keiichi
K
Shiraishi
Kenshiro
K
Tago
Masao
M
Igaki
Hiroshi
H
Nakamura
Naoki
N
Sasano
Nakashi
N
Shiina
Shuichiro
S
Omata
Masao
M
Ohtomo
Kuni
K
D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome