Dongil Choi MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Hyo Keun Lim MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hyunchul Rhim MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Min Ju Kim MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Young-Sun Kim MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Tae Yeon Jeon MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yoo Na Kim, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hyo Jin Kim, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

We evaluated the long-term survival results and safety of combined hepatectomy and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with multifocal hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), and assessed the prognostic factors that affect their survival.

Fifty-three patients who had 148 HCCs in their livers underwent hepatectomy combined with ultrasound-guided intraoperative RFA. The mean diameter of the 82 resected tumors was 4.8 cm (range, 1.3 to 21.0 cm), and that of 66 ablated tumors was 1.5 cm (range, 0.8 to 3.5 cm). We evaluated the primary effectiveness rates, survival rates, and complications. We also assessed the prognostic factors of the survival rates by using Cox proportional hazard models.

The primary effectiveness rate of RFA was 98% (65 of 66). The cumulative survival rates at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years were 87%, 83%, 80%, 68%, and 55%, respectively. Patients with smaller resected tumors (≤5 cm) demonstrated better survival results (P= .004). We observed hepatectomy-related complications in four patients (8%, 4 of 53) and an RFA-related complication in one patient (2%, 1 of 53).

Combined hepatectomy and RFA is an effective and safe treatment modality for multifocal HCCs. Resected tumor size was a significant prognostic predictor of long-term survival.

Aggressive combination treatment of hepatectomy plus RFA may allow more patients to become candidates for resection to multifocal HCCs, particularly bilobar HCCs.

Choi, D, Lim, H, Rhim, H, Kim, M, Kim, Y, Jeon, T, Kim, Y, Kim, H, et al, , et al, , Combined Hepatectomy and Radiofrequency Ablation for Multifocal Hepatocellular Carcinomas: Long-term Follow-up Results and Prognostic Factors.  Radiological Society of North America 2007 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2007 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2007/5010345.html