BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) has been demonstrated to be useful for the treatment of liver neoplasms. The study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the combination of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and RFA, performed simultaneously to treat primary and secondary liver neoplasms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From July 2006 to October 2007, 34 patients (21 with HCC and 13 with liver metastases) underwent 37 sessions of treatment. The schedule consisted of: induction TACE (with epirubicin, mitomycin C and lipiodol, or with doxorubicin/irinotecan loaded on microspheres), percutaneous RFA and second TACE. Monopolar RFA was used on 52 nodules, whereas the bipolar multiprobe technique was used in 6 cases. RESULTS: The treatment was well tolerated, with moderate hepatic and hematological toxicity. In total 51 nodules were evaluable for response, with technical success in 45/51 cases (88%). CONCLUSION: Combined TACE plus RFA is feasible and safe; the preliminary data make it a promising procedure with regard to efficacy and support further investigation.
BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) has been demonstrated to be useful for the treatment of liver neoplasms. The study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the combination of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and RFA, performed simultaneously to treat primary and secondary liver neoplasms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From July 2006 to October 2007, 34 patients (21 with HCC and 13 with liver metastases) underwent 37 sessions of treatment. The schedule consisted of: induction TACE (with epirubicin, mitomycin C and lipiodol, or with doxorubicin/irinotecan loaded on microspheres), percutaneous RFA and second TACE. Monopolar RFA was used on 52 nodules, whereas the bipolar multiprobe technique was used in 6 cases. RESULTS: The treatment was well tolerated, with moderate hepatic and hematological toxicity. In total 51 nodules were evaluable for response, with technical success in 45/51 cases (88%). CONCLUSION: Combined TACE plus RFA is feasible and safe; the preliminary data make it a promising procedure with regard to efficacy and support further investigation.
Authors: Eliodoro Faiella; Alessandro Calabrese; Domiziana Santucci; Carlo de Felice; Claudio Pusceddu; Davide Fior; Federico Fontana; Filippo Piacentino; Lorenzo Paolo Moramarco; Rosa Maria Muraca; Massimo Venturini Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2022-09-22 Impact factor: 4.964