Michele Molinari1, Scott Helton. 1. Department of Surgery, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Dalhousie University, Rm 6-254 Victoria Building, Victoria General Hospital, Halifax, NS, Canada. michele.molinari@cdha.nshealth.ca
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Several observational studies have suggested that radiofrequency ablation (RFA) may have survival benefits similar to hepatic resection (HR) in cirrhotic patients affected by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are not candidates for liver transplantation. A small randomized controlled trial confirmed these findings, although underpowered to detect a significant difference at 5-year interval. METHODS: A Markov model was created to simulate a randomized trial comparing the quality of life-adjusted survival for individuals undergoing HR versus RFA for HCCs less than 5 cm in diameter. RESULTS: HR was the best therapeutic option with 5.33 (standard deviation +/-.42) versus 3.91 (standard deviation +/-.38) quality-adjusted life years except for in individuals older than 75 years of age (P = .02, log rank test). One-way sensitivity analysis showed that RFA was the preferred strategy if the perioperative mortality of HR was more than 30%, if the percentage of patients with negative margins was less than 60%, and if RFA could be performed at least 60% of the time for recurrent disease after a previous ablation. The quality of life associated with both procedures did not influence the results of this model. CONCLUSIONS: HR provided better quality of life-adjusted survival as ablation therapy was associated with increased risk of local recurrent disease requiring multiple sessions. For older individuals, RFA appears to be the best therapeutic option. If the probability of ablation for recurrent disease is equal in the 2 arms, survival benefits of RFA is similar to HR.
BACKGROUND: Several observational studies have suggested that radiofrequency ablation (RFA) may have survival benefits similar to hepatic resection (HR) in cirrhoticpatients affected by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are not candidates for liver transplantation. A small randomized controlled trial confirmed these findings, although underpowered to detect a significant difference at 5-year interval. METHODS: A Markov model was created to simulate a randomized trial comparing the quality of life-adjusted survival for individuals undergoing HR versus RFA for HCCs less than 5 cm in diameter. RESULTS: HR was the best therapeutic option with 5.33 (standard deviation +/-.42) versus 3.91 (standard deviation +/-.38) quality-adjusted life years except for in individuals older than 75 years of age (P = .02, log rank test). One-way sensitivity analysis showed that RFA was the preferred strategy if the perioperative mortality of HR was more than 30%, if the percentage of patients with negative margins was less than 60%, and if RFA could be performed at least 60% of the time for recurrent disease after a previous ablation. The quality of life associated with both procedures did not influence the results of this model. CONCLUSIONS: HR provided better quality of life-adjusted survival as ablation therapy was associated with increased risk of local recurrent disease requiring multiple sessions. For older individuals, RFA appears to be the best therapeutic option. If the probability of ablation for recurrent disease is equal in the 2 arms, survival benefits of RFA is similar to HR.
Authors: Gianpiero Gravante; John Overton; Roberto Sorge; Neil Bhardwaj; Matthew S Metcalfe; David M Lloyd; Ashley R Dennison Journal: J Gastrointest Surg Date: 2011-02 Impact factor: 3.452
Authors: Nader N Massarweh; James O Park; Farhood Farjah; Raymond S W Yeung; Rebecca Gaston Symons; Thomas L Vaughan; Laura-Mae Baldwin; David R Flum Journal: J Am Coll Surg Date: 2010-04 Impact factor: 6.113
Authors: Man Zhang; Mario L Fabiilli; Kevin J Haworth; Frederic Padilla; Scott D Swanson; Oliver D Kripfgans; Paul L Carson; Jeffrey Brian Fowlkes Journal: Acad Radiol Date: 2011-06-23 Impact factor: 3.173