Combined Hepatic Resection and Intraoperative Radio-frequency Ablation for Multiple Hepatocellular Carcinoma

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: There have been many trials to find a cure for inoperable multiple hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), but no effective therapy has been found. As the combined therapy of tumor reductive surgery and intraoperative radio-frequency ablation (RFA) is by far the best known effective treatment modality, the effect of a combined resection and intraoperative RFA for multiple HCC was evaluated. METHODS: Between July 1999 and 2004, a retrograde study was conducted on 8 patients who had undergone combined therapy for HCC, with respect to the number of tumors, location, size, postoperative complications and recurrence. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 51. A Rt. hepatectomy, Lt. Lateral sectionectomy, bi-segmentectomy, segmentectomy and wedge resection were performed. The total number of tumors and resected tumors were 21 and 8, respectively; with an average size of 6.6 cm. Thirteen tumors, with average size of 2 cm, were treated with RFA. Seven postoperative complications were encountered in 2 patients, with 2 operation related complications biloma and ascites. One patient suffered from pleural effusion and a wound complication. One patient went through a RFA-related complication biliary-cutaneous fistula. Four patients suffered a recurrence one at the RFA site, and the rest at the remnant liver. The treatments used for the recurrences were TACE/ TACI, percutaneous Holmium injection and surgical resection. All patients survived, with an average survival and a median disease free survival time of 15 and 11 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: Until now, surgery has been the least favored choice for the treatment of multiple HCC. However, thinking our opinion, the combined therapy of hepatectomy with intraoperative RFA is beneficial. Our group of patients was small, with a short follow up period, without any definite indication; therefore, it will be necessary to conduct continuous follow up, with the collection of appropriate data.