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Stereotactic Radiofrequency Ablation for Metastatic Melanoma to the Liver

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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the outcome of patients with melanoma liver metastasis treated with stereotactic radiofrequency ablation (SRFA).

Material and Method

Following IRB approval, a retrospective evaluation of the treatment of 20 patients with 75 melanoma liver metastases was performed.

Results

A median number of 2 lesions (range 1–14) per patient with a median size of 1.7 cm (range 0.5–14.5 cm) were treated. 67 lesions were <3 cm (89.3 %) and 8 lesions were >3 cm (10.7 %). Per patient a median of 1 ablation session was performed (range: 1–4) totaling 34 sessions. There were no procedure-related deaths and all major complications (n = 3) could be easily treated by pleural drainages. The primary and secondary success rates were 89.3 and 93.3 %, respectively. The overall local recurrence rate was 13.3 %. Four of ten local recurrences were re-treated successfully by SRFA. During follow-up, 9/20 patients developed extrahepatic metastatic disease and 10/20 had liver recurrence at any location. The median OS from the date of SRFA was 19.3 months, with an OS of 64, 41, and 17 % at 1, 3, and 5 years, with no significant difference for patients with cutaneous and ocular melanoma. The median DFS after SRFA for all 20 patients was 9.5 months, with 37, 9, and 0 % at 1, 3, and 5 years.

Conclusions

Due to the high local curative potential and the promising long-term survival rates associated with minimal morbidity and mortality, radiofrequency ablation seems to be an attractive alternative to resection in patients with melanoma liver metastases.

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Abbreviations

CT:

Computed tomography

TT:

Tracheal tube

LND:

Lymph node dissection

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

RFA:

Radiofrequency ablation

SRFA:

Stereotactic radiofrequency ablation

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Section of Interventional Oncology - Microinvasive Therapy (SIP), Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    Reto Bale, Peter Schullian, Gerlig Widmann & Werner Jaschke

  2. Department of Dermatology, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    Matthias Schmuth & Georg Weinlich

Authors
  1. Reto Bale
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  2. Peter Schullian
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  3. Matthias Schmuth
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  4. Gerlig Widmann
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  5. Werner Jaschke
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  6. Georg Weinlich
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Reto Bale.

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Conflict of interest

Reto Bale is a co-inventor of the Atlas aiming device and a co-shareholder in its financial returns. The other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Bale, R., Schullian, P., Schmuth, M. et al. Stereotactic Radiofrequency Ablation for Metastatic Melanoma to the Liver. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 39, 1128–1135 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-016-1336-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-016-1336-z

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