Safety and technical feasibility of percutaneous ablation for lymph node metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma

This study aimed to assess the safety and technical feasibility of percutaneous ablation therapy for lymph node (LN) metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

A total of 31 consecutive HCC patients with LN metastases who were treated with ablation were included in this retrospective study. Percutaneous ablation was performed under local anesthesia and computed tomography-guidance. The primary endpoint was technique success; secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and local progression-free survival (LPFS). Survival curves were constructed using Kaplan-Meier method.

The median diameter of metastatic LNs was 30 mm (range, 10-77 mm). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 74.6%, 50.3%, and 50.3%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year PFS rates were 24.7%, 0%, and not available for calculation (NA), respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year LPFS rates were 78.7%, 69.9%, and 69.9%, respectively. The technique success and technical effectiveness rates were 100% and 64.5%, respectively. The technical effectiveness rates were 65.4% (17/26) and 60% (3/5) in abdominal LN metastases and distant LN metastases, respectively. Only one patient (1/31, 3.2%) had major complications (massive pleural effusion and severe pneumonia) related to ablation. Minor complications related to ablation included mild abdominal pain (10/31, 32.3%) and self-limiting hematoma (2/31, 6.5%). No ablation-related death occurred.

Percutaneous ablation appears to be a safe and feasible method for treatment of metastatic LNs in patients with HCC.