Wan Yee Lau1, Eric C H Lai. 1. Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China. josephlau@cuhk.edu.hk
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To review the current status of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The development of local ablative therapy has been 1 of the major advances in the treatment of HCC. Its role in the management of HCC is still rapidly evolving. METHODS: Studies were identified by searching Medline, and PubMed databases for articles from January 1997 to April 2008 using the keywords "radiofrequency ablation," "hepatocellular carcinoma" and "ablation of HCC." Additional papers were identified by a manual search of the references from the key articles. Randomized controlled trials, nonrandomized comparative studies, cohort studies, were reviewed. Cohort studies with follow-up of less than 12 months and case reports were excluded. RESULTS: Five aspects of RFA were analyzed: (1) RFA in comparison with other local ablative therapies; (2) RFA for unresectable HCC; (3) RFA as bridging therapy before liver transplantation; (4) RFA as primary treatment for resectable HCC; and (5) RFA for recurrent HCC after partial hepatectomy. Ten RCTs, 8 nonrandomized controlled trials and 26 cohort studies were included in this analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence in the medical literature showed RFA was more effective than other local ablative therapies, and supported its use in the treatment of unresectable small HCC, recurrent small HCC, and as bridging therapy before liver transplantation, and as a primary treatment in competition with partial hepatectomy for resectable small HCC.
OBJECTIVE: To review the current status of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The development of local ablative therapy has been 1 of the major advances in the treatment of HCC. Its role in the management of HCC is still rapidly evolving. METHODS: Studies were identified by searching Medline, and PubMed databases for articles from January 1997 to April 2008 using the keywords "radiofrequency ablation," "hepatocellular carcinoma" and "ablation of HCC." Additional papers were identified by a manual search of the references from the key articles. Randomized controlled trials, nonrandomized comparative studies, cohort studies, were reviewed. Cohort studies with follow-up of less than 12 months and case reports were excluded. RESULTS: Five aspects of RFA were analyzed: (1) RFA in comparison with other local ablative therapies; (2) RFA for unresectable HCC; (3) RFA as bridging therapy before liver transplantation; (4) RFA as primary treatment for resectable HCC; and (5) RFA for recurrent HCC after partial hepatectomy. Ten RCTs, 8 nonrandomized controlled trials and 26 cohort studies were included in this analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence in the medical literature showed RFA was more effective than other local ablative therapies, and supported its use in the treatment of unresectable small HCC, recurrent small HCC, and as bridging therapy before liver transplantation, and as a primary treatment in competition with partial hepatectomy for resectable small HCC.
Authors: Wei-Xing Guo; Bo Zhai; Eric C H Lai; Nan Li; Jie Shi; Wan-Yee Lau; Meng-Chao Wu; Shu-Qun Cheng Journal: World J Surg Date: 2010-11 Impact factor: 3.352