Incidence of Complication and Tumor Recurrence after
Radiofrequency Ablation in High-Risk Location of
Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients
Somrach Thamtorawat MD*,
Panida Limsuwarn MD*, Trongtum Tongdee MD*,
Walailak Chaiyasoot MD*, Thanongchai Siriapisith MD*
Affiliation :
* Interventional Radiology Unit, Department of Radiology, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To evaluate complication, rate of residual, and tumor recurrence in high-risk location compared to non-high-risk
location in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.
Material and Method: Radiofrequency ablation was performed on 409 tumors in Siriraj Hospital between October 2009
and May 2012. Eighty-eight nodules in 78 patients were treated by RF ablation, which divided into high risk and non-high-
risk location. Complete ablation rate, residual tumor, recurrent tumor, and complication were retrospectively reviewed.
Results : HCC nodules were in non-high-risk location 34 nodules (38.6%) and in high-risk location 54 nodules (61.4%).
Complete tumor ablations were done in 34 nodules (100%) of non-high-risk location group and 50 nodules (92.6%) of
high-risk location group. All residual tumors were four nodules (7.2%), which located in subcapsular location. Recurrent
tumors were found in six nodules (6.8%), and mean time to recurrence were 210.2 days. Early complication was 10.2% and
late complication was 4.5%. The recurrent tumor and complication were not significantly different between two groups.
Conclusion : Radiofrequency ablation is effective treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in high-risk location tumor. There
is no significant difference in complication and tumor recurrent rate between high-risk and non-high-risk group. However,
incidence of residual tumor is significantly increased in subcapsular location tumor.
Keywords : Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Complication, High-risk location
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