title: Radiofrequency ablation as a treatment for hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the role of radio-frequency ablation (RFA) as a treatment for hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven patients with obstructive cholestasis underwent Computed Tomography (CT) examination, occupying lesions were observed in the hepatic hilar region in each patient. All lesions were confirmed as cholangioadenocarcinoma by biopsy and were classified as type III or IV by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. Patients were treated with multiple electrodes RFA combined with other adjuvant therapy. The survival rate, change of CT attenuation coefficient of the tumor and tumor size were studied in these patients after RFA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a follow-up CT scan one month after RFA, a size reduction of about 30% was observed in six masses, and two masses were reduced by about 20% in size, three of the eleven masses remained unchanged. In a follow-up CT scan 6 mo after RFA, all the masses were reduced in size (overall 35%), in which the most significant size reduction was 60%. The survival follow-up among these eleven cases was 18 mo in average. Ongoing follow-up showed that the longest survival case was 30 mo and the shortest case was 10 mo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RFA is a microinvasive and effective treatment for hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Pei-Hong
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jin-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Fu-Jun
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yang-Kui
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xiang-Long
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chang-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000601:surgery*; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001663:Bilirubin