Percutaneous ultrasound-guided thermal ablation of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of percutaneous ultrasound (US)-guided thermal ablation of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Methods 14 patients (19 nodules) with histolog-ically proven intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) were treated with percutaneous US-guided thermal ablation from Oct. 1998 to Aug. 2009 in our hospital. The local treatment response, complication and survival were retrospectively analyzed. Results 18 (18/19, 94.7%) nodules had complete necrosis, and 1 (1/19, 5.3%) nodule had residual tumor after ablation. There was no mortality associated with thermal ablation. Only 1 (1/14, 7.1%) patient developed portal vein thrombosis. The follow-up ranged from 1.3 to 72.9 months (mean, 19.0±15.1 months; median, 7.25 months), 10 (10/14,71.4%) patients survived less than 1 year, 2 (2/14,14.3%) survived 1-5 years, and 2 (2/14,14.3%) survived more than 5 years. Of the 14 patients, 9 (9/14, 64.3%) had died and 5 (5/14,35.7%) were alive. The causes of death included tumor progression (8/9, 88.9%) and liver failure (1/9, 11.1%). 9 (9/14,64.3%) patients developed recurrence on follow-up. The disease-free survival ranged from 1.1 to 72. 9 months (mean 16.6±26. 3 months; median 4.1 months). Conclusion Percutaneous US-guided thermal ablation therapy using microwave ablation (MWA) or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a safe and effective therapy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.