Percutaneous thermal ablation of hepatic tumors: local control efficacy and risk factors for artificial ascites failure

Abstract

Objective To investigate the risk factors affecting the technical failure of artificial ascites (AA) formation and to evaluate the local control efficacy of percutaneous thermal ablation assisted by the AA for hepatic tumors. Methods A total of 341 patients with 362 hepatic tumors who underwent thermal ablation assisted by AA were reviewed retrospectively. The technical success of AA, the volume of liquid, and local efficacy after ablation were assessed. Predictive factors for the technical failure of AA formation and local tumor progression (LTP) were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis. Results The technical success rate of AA formation was 81.8% (296/362). The amount of fluid was higher when the tumor was located in the left lobe of the liver than when it was located in the right lobe (median 950 ml versus 700 ml, p 3.0 cm) (p = 0.002) and metastatic liver tumor (p = 0.008) as independent risk factors for LTP. Conclusion History of hepatic resection, ablation and upper abdomen surgery were significant predictive factors affecting the technical failure of AA formation. Successful introduction of AA before thermal ablation can achieve better local tumor control efficacy.

Keywords

• artificial ascites
• liver neoplasms
• tumor ablation
• local tumor progression
• risk factor