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La radiologia medica
Published in: La radiologia medica 7/2014

01-07-2014 | Vascular And Interventional Radiology

Thermal ablation of liver metastases from colorectal cancer: radiofrequency, microwave and laser ablation therapies

Authors: Thomas J. Vogl, Parviz Farshid, Nagy N. N. Naguib, Abbas Darvishi, Babak Bazrafshan, Emmanuel Mbalisike, Thorsten Burkhard, Stephan Zangos

Published in: La radiologia medica | Issue 7/2014

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Abstract

Surgery is currently considered the treatment of choice for patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) when resectable. The majority of these patients can also benefit from systemic chemotherapy. Recently, local or regional therapies such as thermal ablations have been used with acceptable outcomes. We searched the medical literature to identify studies and reviews relevant to radiofrequency (RF) ablation, microwave (MW) ablation and laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) in terms of local progression, survival indexes and major complications in patients with CRLM. Reviewed literature showed a local progression rate between 2.8 and 29.7 % of RF-ablated liver lesions at 12–49 months follow-up, 2.7–12.5 % of MW ablated lesions at 5–19 months follow-up and 5.2 % of lesions treated with LITT at 6-month follow-up. Major complications were observed in 4–33 % of patients treated with RF ablation, 0–19 % of patients treated with MW ablation and 0.1–3.5 % of lesions treated with LITT. Although not significantly different, the mean of 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates for RF-, MW- and laser ablated lesions was (92.6, 44.7, 31.1 %), (79, 38.6, 21 %) and (94.2, 61.5, 29.2 %), respectively. The median survival in these methods was 33.2, 29.5 and 33.7 months, respectively. Thermal ablation may be an appropriate alternative in patients with CRLM who have inoperable liver lesions or have operable lesions as an adjunct to resection. However, further competitive evaluation should clarify the efficacy and priority of these therapies in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases.
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Metadata
Title
Thermal ablation of liver metastases from colorectal cancer: radiofrequency, microwave and laser ablation therapies
Authors
Thomas J. Vogl
Parviz Farshid
Nagy N. N. Naguib
Abbas Darvishi
Babak Bazrafshan
Emmanuel Mbalisike
Thorsten Burkhard
Stephan Zangos
Publication date
01-07-2014
Publisher
Springer Milan
Published in
La radiologia medica / Issue 7/2014
Print ISSN: 0033-8362
Electronic ISSN: 1826-6983
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-014-0415-y

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