ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ablation by radiofrequency (RFA) is a novel technique with a great variety of methods whose efficacy and predictive factors have not been completely studied. Some of the main predictive factors in this type of treatment are analyzed in the present study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-three patients with hepatocellular carcinoma over cirrhosis, and with no indication for surgical resection were treated by RFA. Two different types of electrodes were used for RFA (refrigerated-"Cool-Tip" and perfusion with saline solution, the approach was percutaneous, by laparoscopy or laparotomy. RESULTS: Overall survival at 1, 2 and 3 years was 88, 81, and 76%, with a free-disease survival (FDS) of 66, 31 and 17%, respectively. For tumors less than 3 cm, FDS at 1,2 and 3 years was 74, 44 and 30%, while for more than 3 cm in size FDS was 55, 12 and 0% (p = 0.02). FDS for HCC with one nodule was 70, 36 and 22%, and for more than one nodule it decreased to 50, 17 and 0% at 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively (p = 0.07). Surprisingly, the method employed for RFA has a main influence in FDS, with 0% at 3 years for perfusion electrodes and 26% for cool-tip electrodes at the same period. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, overall survival at three years was relatively high; however, tumoral size, number of nodules and RFS method were independent variables associated with disease-free survival.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/therapy , Catheter Ablation , Liver Neoplasms/therapy , Aged , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/complications , Female , Humans , Liver Cirrhosis/complications , Liver Neoplasms/complications , Male , Survival Analysis , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Objetivo: la ablación por radiofrecuencia del hepatocarcinoma(ARF) es una técnica de reciente adquisición, cuya eficacia yfactores predictivos no han sido suficientemente evaluados. Elpresente estudio fue diseñado para este análisis.Pacientes y métodos: se han tratado 93 pacientes con hepatocarcinomasobre hígado cirrótico sin criterios de resección nide trasplante hepático. El tratamiento se realizó mediante abordajepercutáneo, laparoscópico o mediante laparotomía con dos tiposde electrodos de radiofrecuencia, electrodo refrigerado y deperfusión respectivamente.Resultados: la supervivencia global a los 1, 2 y 3 años fue del88, 81 y 76%, con una supervivencia-libre de enfermedad (SLE)de 66, 31 y 17% respectivamente. El análisis multivariante demostrótres variables predictivas independientes: tamaño tumoral( 3 cm; SLE a 1,2 y 3 años de 74, 44 y 30%,frente a 55, 12 y 0%; HR= 2,02; IC 95% 1,10-3,70; p = 0,02),número de nódulos (uno frente a más de uno; SLE a 1,2 y 3 añosde 70, 36 y 22, frente a 50, 17 y 0%; HR= 1,92 IC 95% 0,95-3,93; p = 0,07) y tipo de electrodo (refrigerado frente a perfusión;SLE 80, 43 y 26% a 1, 2 y 3 años frente a 49, 12 y 0%;HR = 2,06; IC 95% 1,12-3,79; p = 0,02).Conclusiones: a pesar de que la ARF proporciona una supervivenciaglobal aceptable, la SLE es notablemente inferior. El tamañodel tumor, el número de nódulos y el tipo de electrodo deARF fueron variables independientes asociadas a la SLE
Objective: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ablation by radiofrequency(RFA) is a novel technique with a great variety ofmethods whose efficacy and predictive factors have not beencompletely studied. Some of the main predictive factors in thistype of treatment are analyzed in the present study.Patients and methods: ninety-three patients with hepatocellularcarcinoma over cirrhosis, and with no indication for surgicalresection were treated by RFA. Two different types of electrodeswere used for RFA (refrigerated-Cool-Tip and perfusion withsaline solution, the approach was percutaneous, by laparoscopyor laparotomy.Results: overall survival at 1, 2 and 3 years was 88, 81, and76%, with a free-disease survival (FDS) of 66, 31 and 17%, respectively.For tumors less than 3 cm, FDS at 1,2 and 3 years was74, 44 and 30%, while for more than 3 cm in size FDS was 55,12 and 0% (p = 0.02). FDS for HCC with one nodule was 70, 36and 22%, and for more than one nodule it decreased to 50, 17and 0% at 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively (p = 0.07). Surprisingly,the method employed for RFA has a main influence in FDS, with0% at 3 years for perfusion electrodes and 26% for cool-tip electrodesat the same period.Conclusions: in this series, overall survival at three years wasrelatively high; however, tumoral size, number of nodules andRFS method were independent variables associated with diseasefreesurvival
