[Radiofrequency ablation with or without transcather arterial chemoembolization for management of hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and complications of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with or without transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was conducted for 62 small HCC cases undergoing RFA with or without TACE, and in each case, the tumors were not more than 3 with a diameter below 5 cm. Nineteen cases were managed with RFA alone (RFA group) while the other 27 underwent RFA combined with TACE (TACE+RFA group). Percutaneous RFA (RITA 1500) procedure was performed under CT guidance 1-3 weeks after TACE in TACE+RFA group.


RESULTS
The complete tumor necrosis rate was 77.8% (21/27) in TACE+RFA group, significantly higher than that in RFA group [57.9% (11/19), P<0.01], and the former group had a significantly lower local recurrence rate than the latter [22.2% (6/27) vs 42.1% (8/19), P<0.01]. Postoperative fever, local pain and temporary hepatic function abnormality were the common complications that were relieved after proper interventions, and mortality did not occur in these cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of TACE and RFA significantly increases the complete tumor necrosis rate and decreases the recurrence rate of small HCC. CT-guided percutaneous RFA can be a safe and effective therapy for small HCC.
Li
Zheng-ran
ZR
Department of Interventional Radiology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China. andyreede@msn.com
Kang
Zhuang
Z
Qian
Jie-sheng
JS
Zhu
Kang-shun
KS
Jiang
Zai-bo
ZB
Huang
Ming-sheng
MS
Guan
Shou-hai
SH
Shan
Hong
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000628:therapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult