Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation therapy with combined angiography and computed tomography assistance for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been reported previously. This technique is superior to percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) for the enlargement of the necrotic area. Therefore, a few treatment sessions of RFA for patients with small HCC lesions measuring < 3 cm in greatest dimension can achieve complete necrosis. To achieve this with a one-treatment RFA session, the authors designed the technique of RFA with angiography combined with computed tomography (angio-CT) assistance. The advantages of this technique are that it is possible to detect small satellite nodules and to evaluate the real-time therapeutic effect immediately after RFA.

METHODS

Ten patients with 12 HCC lesions measuring < 4 cm in greatest dimension underwent RFA with angio-CT assistance. The authors performed standard RFA for six patients (seven tumors) and RFA with balloon occlusion of the hepatic artery (balloon-occluded RFA [BoRFA]) for four patients (five tumors). Final therapeutic efficacy was evaluated with dynamic CT scans performed 2 weeks after treatment.

RESULTS

On CT arteriography (CTA) obtained immediately after treatment, a hyperattenuating ring around the nonenhanced region was apparent in all patients. On CT scans obtained 2 weeks after treatment, this ring disappeared, and the greatest dimension of the nonenhanced region was slightly larger than that on the CTA obtained immediately after treatment. The authors achieved complete eradication with one treatment session of RFA in 8 of 10 patients (80%). Local recurrence occurred in one patient 10 months after treatment. The greatest dimension of the area coagulated by BoRFA was significantly larger (greatest long-axis dimension, 38.2 +/- 2.8 mm; greatest short-axis dimension, 35.0 +/- 1.7 mm; n = 5 lesions) than without it (greatest long-axis dimension, 30.0 +/- 4.1 mm; greatest short-axis dimension, 27.0 +/- 4.3 mm; n = 4 lesions; greatest long-axis dimension, P = 0.009; greatest short-axis dimension, P = 0.006). No major complications occurred in any patient.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors were able to achieve success with a single treatment session in patients with small HCC using RFA with angio-CT assistance. They consider that RFA with angio-CT assistance is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of patients with small HCC.