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Annals of Surgical Oncology
Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology 3/2008

01-03-2008 | Hepatic and Pancreatic Tumors

Incomplete Ablation After Radiofrequency Ablation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Analysis of Risk Factors and Prognostic Factors

Authors: Vincent Wai-To Lam, MS, FRACS, Kelvin K. Ng, MBBS (HK), PhD, FRCS (Edin), Kenneth Siu-Ho Chok, MBBS (HK), FRCS (Edin), Tan-To Cheung, MBBS (HK), FRCS (Edin), Jimmy Yuen, MBBS (HK), FRCR, Helen Tung, MBBS (HK), FRCR, Wai-Kuen Tso, MBBS (HK), FRCR, Sheung-Tat Fan, MS, MD, PhD, FRCS (Edin & Glasg), FACS, Ronnie T. P. Poon, MS, PhD, FRCS (Edin), FACS

Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology | Issue 3/2008

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Abstract

Background

Complete ablation rates after a single session of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) vary from 48% to 97%. Limited data are available regarding risk factors and prognostic significance of incomplete ablation.

Methods

Between April 2001 and March 2006, 298 patients underwent RFA of 393 HCC nodules with an intent of complete ablation after a single session. Risk factors for incomplete ablation and its effect on overall survival were analyzed.

Results

Two hundred seventy-three (91.6%) underwent complete tumor ablation, whereas the other 25 (8.4%) underwent incomplete tumor ablation after a single session of RFA. By multivariate analysis, tumor size >3 cm (P = .049) was found to be the only independent risk factor for incomplete ablation. There was no statistically significant difference in overall survival between patients with complete and incomplete ablation. By univariate analysis, no previous transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), preoperative serum alfa-fetoprotein ≤100 μg/mL, and complete response after further treatment of incomplete ablation were associated with better overall survival in patients with incomplete ablation.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that incomplete ablation after RFA of HCC was associated with tumor size >3 cm. Our data also suggest that aggressive further treatment of tumors with incomplete ablation aiming at complete tumor response improves overall survival.
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Metadata
Title
Incomplete Ablation After Radiofrequency Ablation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Analysis of Risk Factors and Prognostic Factors
Authors
Vincent Wai-To Lam, MS, FRACS
Kelvin K. Ng, MBBS (HK), PhD, FRCS (Edin)
Kenneth Siu-Ho Chok, MBBS (HK), FRCS (Edin)
Tan-To Cheung, MBBS (HK), FRCS (Edin)
Jimmy Yuen, MBBS (HK), FRCR
Helen Tung, MBBS (HK), FRCR
Wai-Kuen Tso, MBBS (HK), FRCR
Sheung-Tat Fan, MS, MD, PhD, FRCS (Edin & Glasg), FACS
Ronnie T. P. Poon, MS, PhD, FRCS (Edin), FACS
Publication date
01-03-2008
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Annals of Surgical Oncology / Issue 3/2008
Print ISSN: 1068-9265
Electronic ISSN: 1534-4681
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-007-9733-9

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