Oncologic Outcomes after Percutaneous Ablation for Colorectal Liver Metastases: An Updated Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is a major cause of cancer-related mortality, with liver metastases occurring in over a third of patients, and is correlated with poor prognosis. Despite surgical resection being the primary treatment option, only about 20% of patients qualify for surgery. Current guidelines recommend thermal ablation either alone or combined with surgery to treat limited hepatic metastases, provided that all visible disease can be effectively eradicated. Several ablation modalities, including radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, cryoablation, irreversible electroporation and histotripsy, are part of the percutaneous ablation armamentarium. Thermal ablation, including radiofrequency, microwave ablation and cryoablation, can offer local tumor control rates comparable to limited resection for selected tumors that can be ablated with margins. This review aims to encapsulate the current clinical evidence regarding the efficacy and oncologic outcomes after percutaneous ablation for the treatment of colorectal liver metastatic disease.

Keywords

• colorectal cancer
• liver metastases
• ablation margin
• tumor ablation
• interventional oncology
• irreversible electroporation