Safety and efficacy of laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation for hepatic malignancies.
OBJECTIVE
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an accepted treatment option for primary and metastatic liver tumors. As percutaneous RFA has some limitations, laparoscopic RFA (LRFA) has been used as a therapeutic alternative for the treatment of hepatic malignancies.


METHODS
Between March 2006 and September 2009, thirty patients with hepatic malignancies that were contraindicated for resection or percutaneous RFA underwent LRFA. Indications for this procedure were hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, 21 patients), metastatic liver tumor (8 patients) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (1 patient).


RESULTS
Among the 30 patients who underwent LRFA, 5 patients underwent concomitant laparoscopic liver resection. Intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasound detected new malignant lesions in 4 patients (13.3%). A total of 46 lesions were ablated by LRFA. There was no postoperative mortality. The three-year overall survival rate was 83.7% for the HCC group and 64.3% for the metastatic group.


CONCLUSIONS
LRFA for hepatic malignancies proved to be a safe and effective treatment. Also, this procedure is indicated for lesions that are not amenable to percutaneous RFA or liver resection.
Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Seung Duk
SD
Lee
Ho-Seong
HS
Han
Jai Young
JY
Cho
Yoo-Seok
YS
Yoon
Dae Wook
DW
Hwang
Kyuwhan
K
Jung
Chang Jin
CJ
Yoon
Yujin
Y
Kwon
Ji Hoon
JH
Kim