Combined radiofrequency-surgical debulking of advanced abdomino-pelvic tumors.
BACKGROUND
Advanced abdomino-pelvic tumors are often unresectable using surgery alone. The current study evaluated a combination of radiofrequency (RF) ablation (RFA) and surgical debulking for such lesions.


METHODS
Between July 2003 and November 2004, we treated 16 patients. Fourteen had either pelvic side wall (n = 8), sacro-iliac joint (n = 4), or vertebral (n = 2) fixation. One tumor engulfed root of mesentery, the last involved stomach-liver-vena. All patients had received prior treatment. The RF probe was placed in the center of the tumor, a 4- to 6-cm tissue core ablated, and the core curetted out or aspirated. This was repeated centrifugally out to the tumor capsule.


RESULTS
Control of the target lesion for more than 6 months was achieved in 10 (62%) patients; 2 died within 3 months, and 4 had tumor progression in less than 6 months. Median survival is 18+ months.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined RFA-surgical debulking was feasible and beneficial in 62%% of patients with otherwise inoperable abdomino-pelvic tumors.
Pearlman
Nathan W
NW
Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO, USA. Nathan.Pearlman@uchsc.edu <Nathan.Pearlman@uchsc.edu>
McCarter
Martin D
MD
Escober
Guillermo
G
MacDermott
Tracey
T
D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D016019:Survival Analysis