Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation with multiple electrodes for medium-sized hepatocellular carcinomas

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary Medicine
• Interventional Radiology
• Oncology

Background:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common primary liver cancer.
• Medium-sized HCCs (3.1-5.0 cm) present treatment challenges.
• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment option for HCC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively evaluate the safety and short-term therapeutic efficacy of switching monopolar radiofrequency ablation (RFA) using multiple electrodes.
• To assess the effectiveness of this technique in treating medium-sized hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs).

Main Methods:

• 30 patients with single medium-sized HCCs underwent percutaneous switching monopolar RFA with two or three internally cooled electrodes under ultrasonographic guidance.
• Contrast-enhanced CT scans were used to measure ablation zone dimensions and volume immediately post-procedure.
• Follow-up CT scans were performed at 1 month and every 3 months thereafter to assess technical effectiveness, local progression, and recurrence.

Main Results:

• No major immediate or periprocedural complications were observed; one bile duct stricture occurred during follow-up.
• Technical effectiveness was achieved in 29 of 30 patients (97%).
• Mean follow-up was 12.5 months, with local tumor progression in 10% and new HCC detection in 21% of patients.

Conclusions:

• Switching monopolar RFA with multiple electrodes is a safe and efficient method for achieving sufficient ablation volume in medium-sized HCCs.
• The technique demonstrated relatively successful short-term therapeutic effectiveness for treating medium-sized HCCs.