title: Radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma in elderly patients fitting the Milan criteria: a single centre with 13 years experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and outcomes of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treating elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective analysis of 391 patients with HCC fitting the Milan criteria and treated with RFA for the first time from 1999 to 2012 at the Southwest Hospital, China. The patients were divided into two groups, an elderly group (age ≥70 years, n = 102) and a non-elderly group (age <70 years, n = 289). Long-term outcomes were assessed on all patients and survival rates were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall survival rates of the two groups differed significantly. The recurrence-free survival rates of the two groups did not differ significantly. There was no significant difference between the two groups. Excluding comorbid diseases related deaths, the overall survival rates of the two groups did not differ significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The safety and outcomes of RFA in treating early HCC were similar among elderly and non-elderly patients. Co-morbid diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease, rather than HCC or liver diseases, contributed to the relatively low overall survival rate found in elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, 324 Hospital of the People's Liberation Army , Chongqing , China and.
authors.forename: Fengshen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Guodong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Xiaowu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kuansheng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Shuguang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bie
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D011846:Radio Waves; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Elderly patients; hepatocellular carcinoma; milan criteria; radiofrequency ablation; survival rate