Use of radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of malignant liver lesions.

Background/aims: The authors present their experience with the option of using radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of malignant focal liver lesions.

Methodology: In a prospective study conducted in the period from 2002-2005, 60 patients were treated using RFA during a total of 72 sessions and treating 108 lesions of various size, number and localisation. The method of RFA was applied either percutaneously under computed tomography (CT) or ultrasonographic (USG) navigation (22 patients) or surgically--during opened laparotomy or laparoscopy (42 patients).

Results: Median observation time was 12.7 months (with the range 3-36 months). Authors did not observe any serious complications after RFA treatment in the study population. Median time of local recurrence in the ablated lesion position was 13.5 months in the observed population, median time of metastatic progression in the residual liver parenchyma was 12 months, and overall median survival was 22 months. Percutaneous RFA application demonstrated significantly worse results when compared with surgical application in previously the mentioned parameters. Lesions larger than 3cm in diameter also showed statistically more frequent local recurrence.

Conclusions: RFA is appreciated as minimally invasive method of treatment for liver malignancies with promising perspectives of therapeutic effects.