title: Survival after radiofrequency ablation and salvage transplantation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and Child-Pugh A cirrhosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within the Milan criteria, liver transplantation (LT) may be the best therapeutic option. However, the shortage of grafts, leads to attempt liver resection (LR) or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as a first-line treatment for patients with Child-Pugh A cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report results, obtained between 2000 and 2007 from a single center, involving 67 patients (mean age: 57 years) eligible for LT, who were treated with RFA, followed by LT if there was recurrence or liver failure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty three tumors were treated (mean size: 29±9 mm; 16 binodular forms). RFA achieved complete ablation in 96% of nodules. No mortality occurred. During a post-RFA median follow-up of 48 months, 38 patients experienced recurrence, corresponding to a 5-year recurrence rate of 58%. Of these, 14 patients did not receive a transplant because they fell outside the Milan criteria, 21 were transplanted, and 3 were treated by RFA after refusing LT. Binodularity (95% CI HR=2, 1.0-4.0; p=0.049) was the unique risk factor for recurrence. By the study's end-point, 24 patients had undergone LT (21 for HCC recurrence and three for liver failure). No HCC recurrence occurred after LT. Among the 43 non-transplant patients, 12 died due to HCC progression, and 27 were alive without detectable viable tumor. The probability rates for 5-year overall and tumor-free survival were 74% and 69%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  First line RFA followed by salvage LT allows survival figures that are at least as good as a first-line LT, while limiting the number of grafts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatogastroenterology, Hôpital Jean Verdier (Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris), Bondy, France.
authors.forename: Gisèle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: N'Kontchou
authors.forename: Mounir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aout
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nahon
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ganne-Carrié
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Grando
authors.forename: Iman
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baghad
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roulot
authors.forename: Jean Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Trinchet
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sellier
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cherqui
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vicaut
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beaugrand
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Seror
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D000078702:Radiofrequency Therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy