Dong Ik Cha1, Tae Wook Kang2, Kyoung Doo Song1, Min Woo Lee1, Hyunchul Rhim1, Hyo Keun Lim1,3, Dong Hyun Sinn4, Kyunga Kim5. 1. Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea. 2. Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea. kaienes.kang@samsung.com. 3. Department of Health Sciences and Technology, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 4. Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 5. Statistics and Data Center, Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To compare the therapeutic outcomes and safety of radiofrequency (RF) ablation for subcardiac and non-subcardiac hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to evaluate the risk factors for technical failure of the procedure. METHODS: This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board. Between September 2002 and May 2016, 73 patients with subcardiac HCC and the same number of patients with non-subcardiac HCC matched by tumor size were included. Subcardiac HCC was defined as an index tumor that was located ≤ 1 cm from the pericardium in axial or coronal images. Cumulative local tumor progression (LTP) was compared between the two groups using the log-rank test. Prognostic factors for technical failure were assessed using multivariable logistic analysis. RESULTS: Technical success rates between both groups were not significantly different (91.8% in the subcardiac HCC group vs. 95.9% in the non-subcardiac HCC group; p = 0.494). The cumulative LTP rates were 15.4% and 19.1% at 3 and 5 years, respectively, in the subcardiac HCC group, and 10.7% and 15.5% in the non-subcardiac HCC group, without significant difference (p = 0.862). The distance between the index tumor and pericardium (odds ratio [OR], 0.14; p = 0.023) and tumor in segment IV (reference, left lateral sector; OR, 36.53; p = 0.029) were significant factors for technical failure in patients with subcardiac HCC. CONCLUSIONS: RF ablation was an effective treatment for subcardiac HCC. However, tumor location should be considered in the planning of treatment to avoid technical failure. KEY POINTS: • RF ablation for subcardiac HCC is technically feasible without major complications. • RF ablation was an effective treatment for subcardiac HCC in terms of LTP. • Risk factors for technical failure were distance of the index tumor from the heart (cutoff value of 0.5 cm) and the location of the tumor (segment IV).
OBJECTIVES: To compare the therapeutic outcomes and safety of radiofrequency (RF) ablation for subcardiac and non-subcardiac hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to evaluate the risk factors for technical failure of the procedure. METHODS: This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board. Between September 2002 and May 2016, 73 patients with subcardiac HCC and the same number of patients with non-subcardiac HCC matched by tumor size were included. Subcardiac HCC was defined as an index tumor that was located ≤ 1 cm from the pericardium in axial or coronal images. Cumulative local tumor progression (LTP) was compared between the two groups using the log-rank test. Prognostic factors for technical failure were assessed using multivariable logistic analysis. RESULTS: Technical success rates between both groups were not significantly different (91.8% in the subcardiac HCC group vs. 95.9% in the non-subcardiac HCC group; p = 0.494). The cumulative LTP rates were 15.4% and 19.1% at 3 and 5 years, respectively, in the subcardiac HCC group, and 10.7% and 15.5% in the non-subcardiac HCC group, without significant difference (p = 0.862). The distance between the index tumor and pericardium (odds ratio [OR], 0.14; p = 0.023) and tumor in segment IV (reference, left lateral sector; OR, 36.53; p = 0.029) were significant factors for technical failure in patients with subcardiac HCC. CONCLUSIONS: RF ablation was an effective treatment for subcardiac HCC. However, tumor location should be considered in the planning of treatment to avoid technical failure. KEY POINTS: • RF ablation for subcardiac HCC is technically feasible without major complications. • RF ablation was an effective treatment for subcardiac HCC in terms of LTP. • Risk factors for technical failure were distance of the index tumor from the heart (cutoff value of 0.5 cm) and the location of the tumor (segment IV).
Authors: Matteo Renzulli; Nicolò Brandi; Anna Pecorelli; Luigi Vincenzo Pastore; Alessandro Granito; Giuseppe Martinese; Francesco Tovoli; Mario Simonetti; Elton Dajti; Antonio Colecchia; Rita Golfieri Journal: Diagnostics (Basel) Date: 2022-03-29