title: Diabetes may not affect outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma after radio-frequency ablation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diabetes mellitus (DM) is prevalent in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but its effects on post-radiofrequency ablation (RFA) have not been elucidated. This study aims to determine whether DM significantly impacts the outcomes in patients with HCC after RFA.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study included 161 HCC patients successfully treated with RFA. Intra-hepatic HCC recurrence and survival were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference was found for 1-, 2-, 3- year's intra-hepatic HCC recurrence rates (DM: 45%, 61%, 74% vs. non-DM: 42%, 62%, 75%;p=0.935) and survival rates (DM: 83%, 80%, 73% vs. non-DM: 92%, 84%, 79%; p=0.218) between diabetics (53 patients) and non-diabetics (108 patients). In subgroup analysis of viral etiology and HCC, no significant difference was noted for intra-hepatic HCC recurrence or survival in hepatitis B virus-related or hepatitis C virus-related HCC. Multivariate analysis showed only persistent hepatitis influenced intra-hepatic HCC recurrence (p=0.021) and survival (p=0.022).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DM may not affect the intra-hepatic HCC recurrence and survival in patients with HCC after RFA. However, persistent hepatitis after RFA may affect intra-hepatic HCC recurrence and survival.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepatology, Liver Research Unit, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Ting
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Therese Capalongan
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Macatula
authors.forename: Chen-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chun-Jung
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shi-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome