Radiofrequency ablation vs hepatic resection for solitary colorectal liver metastasis: a meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the comparative therapeutic efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and hepatic resection (HR) for solitary colorectal liver metastases (CLM).


METHODS
A literature search was performed to identify comparative studies reporting outcomes for both RFA and HR for solitary CLM. Pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using either the fixed effects model or random effects model.


RESULTS
Seven nonrandomized controlled trials studies were included in this analysis. These studies included a total of 847 patients: 273 treated with RFA and 574 treated with HR. The 5 years overall survival rates in the HR group were significantly better than those in the RFA group (OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.22-0.90, P = 0.008). RFA had a higher rate of local intrahepatic recurrence compared to HR (OR: 4.89, 95% CI: 1.73-13.87, P = 0.003). No differences were found between the two groups with respect to postoperative morbidity and mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
HR was superior to RFA in the treatment of patients with solitary CLM. However, the findings have to be carefully interpreted due to the lower level of evidence.
Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreato-Vascular Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, Fujian Province, China.
Yun-Zi
YZ
Wu
Bin
B
Li
Tao
T
Wang
Shuang-Jia
SJ
Wang
Yan-Ming
YM
Zhou
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome