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Tolerance of radiofrequency ablation by patients of hepatocellular carcinoma

  • Original article
  • Published:
Journal of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery

Abstract

Background

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is currently an effective method for ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Early reports have indicated that RFA is safe and virtually free from major complications. Unlike partial hepatectomy for HCC on patients with cirrhosis, there are no data on the safety limit of RFA. However, information is vital for selection of appropriate patients for the procedure. In this study, we analyzed results from use of RFA on HCC patients and determined the lower limit of liver function with which HCC patients can tolerate RFA.

Method

Preoperative variables of 310 patients who underwent RFA for HCC were analyzed to identify the risk factors in RFA intolerance in terms of morbidity associated with stress-induced complications.

Results

Thirty-nine (12.6%) patients developed intolerance of RFA. Postoperative morbidity was mainly because of intractable ascites (n = 13), hyperbilirubinemia (n = 10), massive pleural effusion (n = 7), and other complications (n = 14). Multivariate analysis revealed that serum albumin level (P = 0.001), serum bilirubin level (P = 0.000), tumor number (P = 0.002), and RFA duration (P = 0.017) all played a role in this issue.

Conclusions

Simple data such as serum bilirubin, serum albumin level, and tumor number can be used to predict HCC patients’ tolerance of RFA. Avoidance of excessive RFA time and careful monitoring of patients at risk are important means of reducing the postoperative morbidity rate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China

    Tan To Cheung, Kelvin K. Ng, Ronnie T. Poon & Sheung Tat Fan

Authors
  1. Tan To Cheung
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  2. Kelvin K. Ng
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  3. Ronnie T. Poon
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  4. Sheung Tat Fan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sheung Tat Fan.

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Cheung, T.T., Ng, K.K., Poon, R.T. et al. Tolerance of radiofrequency ablation by patients of hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Surg 16, 655–660 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00534-009-0103-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00534-009-0103-9

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