Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (Mar 2020)

Multiple imaging modality-guided radiofrequency ablation combined with transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma in special locations

  • Bo-Shuai Yang,
  • Ling-Xiao Liu,
  • Min Yuan,
  • Yi-Bin Hou,
  • Qing-Tao Li,
  • Su Zhou,
  • Yu-Xin Shi,
  • Bu-Lang Gao

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5152/dir.2019.18540
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 26, no. 2
pp. 131 – 139

Abstract

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PURPOSEWe aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) guided by multiple imaging modalities for hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) in special (i.e., high-risk or unfavorable) locations compared with those in conventional locations.METHODSA total of 122 HCC patients were enrolled, including 85 patients (69.7%) with HCC in conventional locations and 37 (30.3%) with HCC in special locations. The clinical data, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and procedure-related adverse events were analyzed.RESULTSRFA combined with TACE was successfully performed in all patients. Three complications (2.5%) occurred, with no significant difference between the conventional (n=1, 1.2%) and special (n=2, 5.4%) locations (P = 0.218). Complete tumor necrosis rate was not significantly different between the conventional (n=73, 85.9%) and special (n=34, 91.9%) locations at one-month imaging (P = 0.353). After a follow-up of 3–48 months, the PFS was 17 months for patients with HCC in conventional locations and 14 months for patients with HCC in special locations; one-year PFS rate was 68.1% in the conventional location group, not significantly (P = 0.741) different from 59.1% in the special location group. The OS was 28 months in the conventional location group while 32 months in the special location group. The cumulative one- and two-year OS rates were 89.9% and 63.3%, respectively, in the conventional location group, not significantly different from 96.3% and 65% in the special location group (P = 0.273). Age (P = 0.043) and tumor size (P < 0.001) were significant prognostic factors for OS, and tumor size (P < 0.001) was the only significant prognostic factor for PFS.CONCLUSIONRFA guided by multiple imaging modalities combined with TACE may be safe and effective for treating HCCs in special locations.