Current status and future of radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma

ABSTRACT

Radiofrequency ablation, one of the most common locoregional therapies for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Korea, has become an excellent alternative to curative surgery with advantages of minimal invasiveness, favorable complications, and low morbidity. The therapeutic efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been shown to be comparable to that of surgical resection for early-stage HCC. Long-term outcomes for HCC after radiofrequency ablation reported in large series studies were an overall survival of 54 - 60.2% at 5 years and 27.3 - 33% at 10 years. Recent technical developments in radiofrequency ablation include more effective separable clustered electrodes, hydrodissection techniques such as artificial ascites or pleural effusion, ultrasound - magnetic resonanace image fusion guidance, Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasonography guidance, and combined therapy with transarterial chemoembolization and sorafenib. In summary, radiofrequency ablation plays a key role in nonsurgical therapy and multidisciplinary approaches that aim to increase the survival rate of patients of hepatocellular carcinoma.