Is percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma a safe procedure?

AIM: To assess the safety and efficacy of percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) in the treatment of nonsurgical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in daily practice.

METHODS: A total of 63 consecutive patients with HCC (solitary nodule
RESULTS: Seventy-one lesions were treated in 80 sessions. Sixteen patients required adjuvant chemoembolization. Mean follow-up was 18+/-12 months. An objective response was achieved in 87% of patients who underwent primary/adjuvant treatment. Complete histological necrosis was found in 38% of patients who underwent liver transplantation. One, 2 and 3-year survival rates were 95, 76 and 72%, respectively in patients who underwent primary/adjuvant therapy and 82, 68 and 51%, respectively in patients who underwent palliative therapy. Major complications (hemoperitoneum, pleuritis, pneumothorax and sepsis) were observed in 6.3% of the patients. Notably, rapid neoplastic progression was observed in two patients within 2 months after a single RFA session (neoplastic portal thrombosis and plurifocal HCC in one patient and cutaneous seeding and lung metastases in another patient).

CONCLUSIONS: Majority of the HCC patients treated by percutaneous RFA can achieve local control of the tumor in HCCs less than or equal to 3 cm. As the procedure can be associated with major complications and cases of rapid neoplastic dissemination may occur, a more accurate selection of candidates to RFA treatment is advisable.