Radiofrequency ablation as a treatment for hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
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.
Fan
Wei-Jun
WJ
Cancer Center of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong Province, China.
Wu
Pei-Hong
PH
Zhang
Liang
L
Huang
Jin-Hua
JH
Zhang
Fu-Jun
FJ
Gu
Yang-Kui
YK
Zhao
Ming
M
Huang
Xiang-Long
XL
Guo
Chang-Yu
CY
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
D001663:Bilirubin