[Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation treatment of hepatocellular cancer]

To evaluate the safety, efficacy and complication of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treatment of hepatocellular cancer (HCC).

78 HCC patients (58 of Child class A, 14 of Child class B, 6 Child class C) with 110 tumors (with the median diameter of 6.1 cm +/- 2.9 cm and the range of 1.9 to 13.7 cm) were treated by electrodes inserted to the foci percutaneously under ultrasound guidance using RF 2000 generator for 105 times in total (on average for 1.3 times and with 6.3 ablated sessions per patient). After the treatment the patients were followed up for 9.2 months on average (1-16 months).

The serum ALT and TBIL were transiently elevated one day after RFA in all patients, and returned to baseline values in 2 weeks. The common response after RFA was mild fever. 6 patients (7.7%) had complications; however, no treatment-related death took place. 43 patients (55.1%) had tumor recurrence 6.1 months after RFA on average. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the tumor diameter were related significantly to local recurrence (P = 0.0001). There was a significant linear correlation between the number of overlapping ablation sessions and tumor diameter (r = 0.772 16, P = 0.0001) among patients without local recurrence. From further liner regression analysis, a mathematical model: y = -1.794 + 1.733x (P = 0.0001, R-square = 0.5303, y: ablation sessions, x: tumor diameter) was got.

RFA is a safe and effective nonoperative treatment for HCC.