Radiofrequency ablation for liver metastasis from gastrointestinal stromal tumor.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and clinical outcomes of radiofrequency (RF) ablation for the treatment of liver metastases from gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).


METHODS
Seven consecutive patients with 21 GIST liver metastases received RF ablation under computed tomographic (CT) fluoroscopic guidance. Liver metastases were solitary in two patients and multiple in five patients, with a mean maximum tumor diameter of 2.2 cm±1.1 (range, 1.2-4.2 cm). In addition to feasibility and safety, local tumor progression and overall and GIST-related survival associated with RF ablation were assessed.


RESULTS
All liver metastases were treated in 12 RF sessions, after which contrast-enhanced CT showed disappearance of tumor enhancement. No RF procedure-related complications occurred. Local tumor progression developed in one tumor (4.8%) during the mean follow-up period of 30.6 months±27.5 (range, 5.9-76.4 mo). New liver metastasis in untreated liver and lung metastasis developed in one patient each. One patient died of subarachnoid hemorrhage 5.9 months after RF ablation, but no GIST-related deaths occurred. The respective overall and GIST-related survival rates were 85.7% (95% confidence interval, 33.6%-97.8%) and 100% at 1, 3, and 5 years.


CONCLUSIONS
RF ablation is a feasible, safe, and useful therapeutic option for the treatment for GIST liver metastases.
Department of Radiology, Mie University School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan. t-yama@clin.medic.mie-u.ac.jp
Takashi
T
Yamanaka
Haruyuki
H
Takaki
Atsuhiro
A
Nakatsuka
Junji
J
Uraki
Masashi
M
Fujimori
Takaaki
T
Hasegawa
Hajime
H
Sakuma
Koichiro
K
Yamakado
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047368:Tumor Burden