Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of liver tumors using multiple saline-perfused electrodes

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with multiple saline-perfused electrodes is a minimally invasive alternative to archive large coagulation zones. Few long-term results have been published so far. This is a report of our long-term experience using multiple saline-perfused electrodes for the treatment of malignant hepatic tumors.

Thirty-eight patients with biopsy-proven hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or liver metastases of colorectal cancer (CRC) (17 CRC, 21 HCC) with a total of 56 tumors (26 CRC, 30 HCC) were treated with the Integra HiTT 106 RF generator using multiple saline-perfused electrodes. Mean size was 42 mm for HCC and 36 mm for CRC. Follow-up examinations took place after 2 days and 1, 3, 6, and 9 months after RFA and every 6 months thereafter.

We performed 2.6 (2.7 CRC, 2.4 HCC) sessions per patient. Major complications occurred in 2% of patients. Ninety-two percent (35/38) were treated technically successfully. Local tumor progression was found in 8 patients out of 35 (22% overall, 21% HCC, 25% CRC). For HCC, 43% of patients suffered distant intrahepatic recurrence. One- and two-year survival for HCC patients was 71% and 58%. (Child-Pugh status A, one- and two-year survival was 90% and 80%; Child status B, 35% and 18%). For CRC, 11 of 17 (65%) patients suffered distant intrahepatic recurrence. One- and two-year survival for CRC patients was 94% and 86%.

RFA using multiple saline-perfused electrodes shows results in the treatment of liver tumors comparable with other established ablation techniques.