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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Radiol Imaging 2013; 23(02): 139-144
DOI: 10.4103/0971-3026.116569
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Role of radiofrequency ablation in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: An Indian experience

Naveen Kalra
Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector-12, Chandigarh
,
Mandeep Kang
Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector-12, Chandigarh
,
Anmol Bhatia
Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector-12, Chandigarh
,
Ajay K Duseja
Department of Hepatology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector-12, Chandigarh
,
Radha K Dhiman
Department of Hepatology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector-12, Chandigarh
,
Virendra K Arya
Department of Anaesthesia, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector-12, Chandigarh
,
Arvind Rajwanshi
Department of Cytology and Gynaecology Pathology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector-12, Chandigarh
,
Yogesh K Chawla
Department of Hepatology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector-12, Chandigarh
,
Niranjan Khandelwal
Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector-12, Chandigarh
› Author Affiliations Source of Support: This study was partly funded by the ICMR.
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Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the role of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as an ablative technique in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Settings and Design: A tertiary care center, prospective study. Materials and Methods: The subjects comprised 31 patients (30 males, one female; age range 32-75 years) with HCC (41 lesions) who were treated with image-guided RFA. The follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 6 years, and included a multiphasic computed tomography (CT) at 1, 3 and 6 months post-RFA, and every 6 months thereafter. Patient outcome was evaluated and the tumor recurrence, survival and complications were assessed. Statistical Analysis Used: Discrete categorical data were presented as n (%) and continuous data as mean ± SD. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between the different variables. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and Log-rank test were used to test the significance of difference between the survival time of the different groups. Results: The ablation success rate was 80.5% (33/41 HCC lesions). 12.2% (5/41) of the lesions were managed with repeat RFA due to tumor residue. 4.9% (2/41) of the lesions were managed with repeated RFA and transarterial chemoembolization. Eight patients had tumor recurrence (five patients (16.1%) had local recurrence and three patients (9.6%) had distant recurrence). Eleven patients died within 3.5-20 months post-RFA. The survival rate at 1 year in patients who completed at least 1 year of follow-up was 63.3%. There was one major complication (1/31, 3.2%) in a patient with a subcapsular lesion and ascites. This patient developed hemoperitoneum in the immediate postprocedure period and was managed with endovascular treatment. She, however, had hepatic decompensation and died 48 h post-RFA. Conclusion: RFA is an effective and safe treatment for small unresectable HCC.

Keywords

HCC - RFA - small - unresectable


Publication History

Article published online:
04 October 2021

© 2013. Indian Radiological Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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