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Rates and Patterns of Recurrence After Microwave Ablation of Colorectal Liver Metastases: A Per Lesion Analysis of 416 Tumors in the Era of 2.45 GHz Generators

  • Hepatobiliary Tumors
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

For some patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs), surgical resection of all visible disease can lead to long-term survival and even cure. When complete resection is not feasible, microwave ablation (MWA) can help achieve hepatic disease control. As modern 2.45-GHz MWA generators gain popularity, the characteristics of tumors most likely to benefit from this method remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate local recurrence (LR) rates, patterns of recurrence, and factors contributing to treatment failure after 2.45-GHz MWA of CRLM.

Methods

Patients with CRLM who underwent operative 2.45-GHz MWA between 2011 and 2019 were identified in a prospectively maintained single-institution database. Recurrence outcomes were ascertained for each lesion by imaging review. Factors associated with LR were analyzed.

Results

The study enrolled 184 patients bearing 416 ablated tumors. Most of the patients (65.8%) had high clinical risk scores (3–5), and 165 (90%) underwent concurrent liver resection. The median tumor size was 10 mm. After a median follow-up period of 28.8 months, LR was observed in 45 tumors, and the cumulative incidence of LR at 24 months was 10.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.0–14.3%]. In 7%, LR was the first recurrence site, often combined with recurrence elsewhere. The cumulative incidence of LR at 24 months was 6.8% (95% CI 3.8–11.0%) for tumors 10 mm in size or smaller, 12.4% (95% CI 7.8–18.1%) for tumors 11 to 20 mm in size, and 30.2% (95% CI 14.2–48.0%) for tumors larger than 20 mm. In the multivariable analysis, tumors larger than 20 mm with a subcapsular location were significantly associated with increased LR risk.

Conclusions

Treatment of CRLM with 2.45-GHz MWA offers excellent local control at 2 years and is most successful for small tumors deep within the parenchyma.

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Acknowledgement

This study was supported by NIH/NCI Cancer Center Support Grant P30CA008748 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

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Author notes

  1. Georgios Karagkounis and Sarah M. McIntyre have contributed equally to this study.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hepatopancreatobiliary Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

    Georgios Karagkounis MD, Sarah M. McIntyre MD, Tiegong Wang MD, Naaz Nasar MD, Vinod P. Balachandran MD, Alice C. Wei MD, Kevin C. Soares MD, Jeffrey A. Drebin MD, Michael I. D’Angelica MD, William R. Jarnagin MD & T. Peter Kingham MD

  2. Department of Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

    Joanne F. Chou MPH & Mithat Gonen PhD

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  1. Georgios Karagkounis MD
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  2. Sarah M. McIntyre MD
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  3. Tiegong Wang MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. Peter Kingham MD.

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Karagkounis, G., McIntyre, S.M., Wang, T. et al. Rates and Patterns of Recurrence After Microwave Ablation of Colorectal Liver Metastases: A Per Lesion Analysis of 416 Tumors in the Era of 2.45 GHz Generators. Ann Surg Oncol 30, 6571–6578 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-023-13751-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-023-13751-6

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