The role of radiofrequency ablation in multiple liver metastases to debulk the tumor: a pilot study before alternative therapies.

INTRODUCTION

In this study, our aim was to proceed with the first study of our patients by evaluating different metastatic tumor to the liver to check whether, after debulking the tumor with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), the chemotherapy, could increase the survival in these patients as a pilot study before applying alternative therapies in the future.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We studied 11 patients, 7 male, 4 female; age mean, 68 years (50-84). The tumors considered were carcinoid (3), gastrinoma (3), a new endocrine of unknown origin (2), colorectal (2), and breast (1).

RESULTS

All of the patients underwent laparoscopic RFA with a prior confirmatory biopsy and were discharged after 23 hours. No pain, bleeding, or wound infections were reported. One (1) patient with a gastrinoma died 9 months following surgery from a myocardial infarction. All other patients are still alive, although 2 experienced hepatic recurrences.

CONCLUSIONS

The 11 patients in this series showed that RFA combined with chemotherapy is a viable therapeutic choice for patients with cancer that has metastasized to the liver. New therapies are still needed.