title: Short-term interval combined chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate hepatic function after combined transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with a short-term interval (0-2 d).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 115 patients with compensated liver cirrhosis underwent RFA combined with TACE at a time-interval of 0-2 d for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) < 5.0 cm. There were 21 patients who received further hepatic directed treatment altering liver function within 12 mo after the combined therapy for HCC-recurrence, and were excluded. The remaining 94 patients who survived without HCC-recurrence were included in this retrospective study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 1 mo after treatment, Child-Pugh scores (CPs) remained unchanged in 89 of 94 patients (94.7%), and transiently increased by one-point in 5 patients (5.3%). However, the score returned to baseline score at 3 mo and was maintained until 6 mo in all patients. The baseline CPs of 8 or more was identified as a factor for transient rise of CPs after the treatment (CPs 8/9 vs 5/6/7; 21.4% vs 2.5%; P = 0.022). At 12 mo follow-up, CPs was unchanged in 90 patients (95.7%), and increased by one-point in 4 patients (4.3%). The rise of CPs at 12 mo was not statistically associated with the initial transient rise of CPs. There were procedure-related complications in 3 patients (3.2%), but the complications were resolved by medical and interventional treatments without hepatic functional sequelae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combined TACE and RFA with an interval of 0-2 d are safe for the management of HCC < 5 cm in cirrhotic patients.
authors.affiliation: Won Hyeok Choe, Jeong Han Kim, So Young Kwon, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 143-729, South Korea.
authors.forename: Won Hyeok
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.affiliation: Won Hyeok Choe, Jeong Han Kim, So Young Kwon, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 143-729, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Won Hyeok Choe, Jeong Han Kim, So Young Kwon, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 143-729, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Won Hyeok Choe, Jeong Han Kim, So Young Kwon, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 143-729, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Won Hyeok Choe, Jeong Han Kim, So Young Kwon, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 143-729, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Han
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Won Hyeok Choe, Jeong Han Kim, So Young Kwon, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 143-729, South Korea.
authors.forename: So Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Child-Pugh score; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver cirrhosis; Radiofrequency ablation; Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization