Efficacy and safety of percutaneous transhepatic biliary radiofrequency ablation in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice

BACKGROUND Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage(PTCD)and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography/endoscopic nasobiliary drainage are the most common clinical procedures for jaundice control in patients with unresectable malignant obstructive jaundice,yet the safety and effect of endobiliary radiofrequency ablation(EB-RFA)combined PTCD is rarely reported,in this article,we report our experience of EB-RFA combined PTCD in such patients.AIM To retrospectively study the efficacy and safety of EB-RFA combined PTCD in patients with unresectable malignant obstructive jaundice.METHODS Patients with unresectable malignant obstructive jaundice treated with EB-RFA under PTCD were selected,the bile ducts of the right posterior lobe was selected as the target bile ducts in all cases.The general conditions of all patients,preoperative tumour markers,total bilirubin(TBIL),direct bilirubin(DBIL),albumin(ALB),alkaline phosphatase(ALP),and glutamyl transferase(GGT)before and on the 7th day after the procedure,as well as perioperative complications,stent patency time and patient survival were recorded.RESULTS All patients successfully completed the operation,TBIL and DBIL decreased significantly in all patients at the 7th postoperative day(P=0.009 and 0.006,respectively);the values of ALB,ALP and GGT also decreased compared with the preoperative period,but the difference was not statistically significant.Perioperative biliary bleeding occurred in 2 patients,which was improved after transfusion of blood and other conservative treatments,pancreatitis appeared in 1 patient after the operation,no serious complication and death happened after operation.Except for 3 patients with loss of visits,the stent patency rate of the remaining 14 patients was 100%71%and 29%at the 1^(st),3^(rd),and 6^(th)postoperative months respectively,with a median survival of 4 months.CONCLUSION EB-RFA under PTCD in patients with unresectable malignant obstructive jaundice has a satisfactory therapeutic effect and high safety,which is worthy of further clinical practice.

Benefits and drawbacks of radiofrequency ablation via percutaneous or minimally invasive surgery for treating hepatocellular carcinoma

The management of early stage hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)presents significant challenges.While radiofrequency ablation(RFA)has shown safety and effectiveness in treating HCC,with lower mortality rates and shorter hospital stays,its high recurrence rate remains a significant impediment.Consequently,achieving improved survival solely through RFA is challenging,particularly in retrospective studies with inherent biases.Ultrasound is commonly used for guiding percutaneous RFA,but its low contrast can lead to missed tumors and the risk of HCC recurrence.To enhance the efficiency of ultrasound-guided percutaneous RFA,various techniques such as artificial ascites and contrast-enhanced ultrasound have been developed to facilitate complete tumor ablation.Minimally invasive surgery(MIS)offers advantages over open surgery and has gained traction in various surgical fields.Recent studies suggest that laparoscopic intraoperative RFA(IORFA)may be more effective than percutaneous RFA in terms of survival for HCC patients unsuitable for surgery,highlighting its significance.Therefore,combining MIS-IORFA with these enhanced percutaneous RFA techniques may hold greater significance for HCC treatment using the MIS-IORFA approach.This article reviews liver resection and RFA in HCC treatment,comparing their merits and proposing a trajectory involving their combination in future therapy.

Nomogram predicting the prognosis of primary liver cancer after radiofrequency ablation combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization

BACKGROUND The incidence and mortality rates of primary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)are high,and the conventional treatment is radiofrequency ablation(RFA)with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE);however,the 3-year survival rate is still low.Further,there are no visual methods to effectively predict their prognosis.AIM To explore the factors influencing the prognosis of HCC after RFA and TACE and develop a nomogram prediction model.METHODS Clinical and follow-up information of 150 patients with HCC treated using RFA and TACE in the Hangzhou Linping Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from May 2020 to December 2022 was retrospectively collected and recorded.We examined their prognostic factors using multivariate logistic regression and created a nomogram prognosis prediction model using the R software(version 4.1.2).Internal verification was performed using the bootstrapping technique.The prognostic efficacy of the nomogram prediction model was evaluated using the concordance index(CI),calibration curve,and receiver operating characteristic RESULTS Of the 150 patients treated with RFA and TACE,92(61.33%)developed recurrence and metastasis.Logistic regression analysis identified six variables,and a predictive model was created.The internal validation results of the model showed a CI of 0.882.The correction curve trend of the prognosis prediction model was always near the diagonal,and the mean absolute error before and after internal validation was 0.021.The area under the curve of the prediction model after internal verification was 0.882[95%confidence interval(95%CI):0.820-0.945],with a specificity of 0.828 and sensitivity of 0.656.According to the Hosmer-Lemeshow test,χ^(2)=3.552 and P=0.895.The predictive model demonstrated a satisfactory calibration,and the decision curve analysis demonstrated its clinical applicability.CONCLUSION The prognosis of patients with HCC after RFA and TACE is affected by several factors.The developed prediction model based on the influencing parameters shows a good prognosis predictive efficacy.

Radiofrequency ablation combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for recurrent liver cancer

BACKGROUND The recurrence rate of liver cancer after surgery is high.Radiofrequency ablation(RFA)combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)is an effective treatment for liver cancer;however,its efficacy in recurrent liver cancer remains unclear.AIM To investigate the clinical effect of TACE combined with RFA in the treatment of recurrent liver cancer.METHODS Ninety patients with recurrent liver cancer were divided into 2 groups according to treatment plan:Control(RFA alone);and experimental[TACE combined with RFA(TACE+RFA)].The incidence of increased alanine aminotransferase levels,complications,and other indices were compared between the two groups before and after the procedures.RESULTS One month after the procedures,the short-term efficacy rate and Karnofsky Performance Status scores of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group(P<0.05).Alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)and total bilirubin levels were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05);The overall response rate was 82.22%and 66.67%in the experimental and control groups,respectively;The disease control rate was 93.33%and 82.22%in the experimental and control groups,respectively,the differences are statistically significant(P<0.05).And there were no statistical differences in complications between the two groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION TACE+RFA was effective for the treatment of recurrent liver cancer and significantly reduced AFP levels and improved various indices of liver function.

Expert consensus of Chinese Association for the Study of Pain on the radiofrequency therapy technology in the Department of Pain

On the basis of continuous improvement in recent years,radiofrequency therapy technology has been widely developed,and has become an effective method for the treatment of various intractable pain.Radiofrequency therapy is a technique that uses special equipment and puncture needles to output ultra-high frequency radio waves and accurately act on local tissues.In order to standardize the application of radiofrequency technology in the treatment of painful diseases,Chinese Association for the Study of Pain(CASP)has developed a consensus proposed by many domestic experts and scholars.

Melatonin enhances the efficacy of anti-PD-L1 by improving hypoxia in residual tumors after insufficient radiofrequency ablation

The hypoxic microenvironment and inflammatory state of residual tumors caused by insufficient radiofrequency ablation(iRFA)are major reasons for rapid tumor progression and pose challenges for immunotherapy.We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)treated with RFA and observed that iRFAwas associated with poor survival outcomes and progression-free survival.Using an orthotopic HCC mouse model and a colorectal liver metastasis model,we observed that treatment with melatonin after iRFA reduced tumor growth and metastasis and achieved the best outcomes when combined with anti-programmed death-ligand 1(anti-PD-L1)therapy.In mechanism,melatonin inhibited the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transitions,hypoxia-inducible factor(HIF)-1a,and PD-L1 in tumor cells after iRFA.Flow cytometry revealed that melatonin reduced the proportion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and increased the proportion of CD8t T cells.Transcriptomic analysis revealed an upregulation of immune-activated function-related genes in residual tumors.These findings demonstrated that melatonin can reverse hypoxia and iRFA-induced inflammation,thereby overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment(TME)and enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Efficacy of radiofrequency ablation combined with sorafenib for treating liver cancer complicated with portal hypertension and prognostic factors

BACKGROUND Patients with liver cancer complicated by portal hypertension present complex challenges in treatment.AIM To evaluate the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation in combination with sorafenib for improving liver function and its impact on the prognosis of patients with this condition.METHODS Data from 100 patients with liver cancer complicated with portal hypertension from May 2014 to March 2019 were analyzed and divided into a study group(n=50)and a control group(n=50)according to the treatment regimen.The research group received radiofrequency ablation(RFA)in combination with sorafenib,and the control group only received RFA.The short-term efficacy of both the research and control groups was observed.Liver function and portal hypertension were compared before and after treatment.Alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),glypican-3(GPC-3),and AFP-L3 levels were compared between the two groups prior to and after treatment.The occurrence of adverse reactions in both groups was observed.The 3-year survival rate was compared between the two groups.Basic data were compared between the survival and non-surviving groups.To identify the independent risk factors for poor prognosis in patients with liver cancer complicated by portal hypertension,multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed.RESULTS When comparing the two groups,the research group's total effective rate(82.00%)was significantly greater than that of the control group(56.00%;P<0.05).Following treatment,alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels increased,and portal vein pressure decreased in both groups.The degree of improvement for every index was substantially greater in the research group than in the control group(P<0.05).Following treatment,the AFP,GPC-3,and AFP-L3 levels in both groups decreased,with the research group having significantly lower levels than the control group(P<0.05).The incidence of diarrhea,rash,nausea and vomiting,and fatigue in the research group was significantly greater than that in the control group(P<0.05).The 1-,2-,and 3-year survival rates of the research group(94.00%,84.00%,and 72.00%,respectively)were significantly greater than those of the control group(80.00%,64.00%,and 40.00%,respectively;P<0.05).Significant differences were observed between the survival group and the non-surviving group in terms of Child-Pugh grade,history of hepatitis,number of tumors,tumor size,use of sorafenib,stage of liver cancer,histological differentiation,history of splenectomy and other basic data(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that high Child-Pugh grade,tumor size(6–10 cm),history of hepatitis,no use of sorafenib,liver cancer stage IIIC,and previous splenectomy were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in patients with liver cancer complicated with portal hypertension(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Patients suffering from liver cancer complicated by portal hypertension benefit from the combination of RFA and sorafenib therapy because it effectively restores liver function and increases survival rates.The prognosis of patients suffering from liver cancer complicated by portal hypertension is strongly associated with factors such as high Child-Pugh grade,tumor size(6-10 cm),history of hepatitis,lack of sorafenib use,liver cancer at stage IIIC,and prior splenectomy.

Severe hypoxemia after radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation in palliatively repaired tetralogy of Fallot: A case report

BACKGROUND Patients with tetralogy of Fallot(TOF)often have arrhythmias,commonly being atrial fibrillation(AF).Radiofrequency ablation is an effective treatment for AF and does not usually cause severe postoperative hypoxemia,but the risk of complications may increase in patients with conditions such as TOF.CASE SUMMARY We report a young male patient with a history of TOF repair who developed severe hypoxemia after radiofrequency ablation for AF and was ultimately confirmed to have a new right-to-left shunt.The patient subsequently underwent atrial septal occlusion and eventually recovered.CONCLUSION Radiofrequency ablation may cause iatrogenic atrial septal injury;thus possible complications should be predicted in order to ensure successful treatment and patient safety.

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography:An effective option for endo-biliary radiofrequency ablation before stent insertion in unresectable biliary cancer?

Biliary cancer is a highly aggressive disease that is typically diagnosed at advanced stages when surgical removal is no longer an option.In these cases,palliative care and mechanical widening of the blocked biliary system are preferred.The insertion of a stent is often necessary to prevent the recurrence of blockages caused by cancer progression.Prior to stent placement,endo-biliary radiofrequency ablation(EB-RFA)appears to result in longer-lasting stent effectiveness without increasing the risk of severe complications.However,its impact on overall survival is not yet clear.Additionally,while endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is the most common method for performing EB-RFA,percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage seems to be a safe and potentially more efficient alternative,particularly for long,angulated,or significantly narrowed bile ducts.

Role of a new inflammation predictor in predicting recurrence of atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency catheter ablation

BACKGROUND Radiofrequency catheter ablation(RFCA)has become an important strategy for treating atrial fibrillation(AF),and postoperative recurrence represents a significant and actively discussed clinical concern.The recurrence after RFCA is considered closely related to inflammation.Systemic immune inflammation index(SII)is a novel inflammation predictor based on neutrophils,platelets,and lymphocytes,and is considered a biomarker that comprehensively reflects the immune inflammatory status of the body.AIM To explore the predictive effect of the SII on AF recurrence after RFCA and its predictive value in combination with the existing APPLE score for AF recurrence after RFCA in patients with non-valvular AF(NVAF).METHODS We retrospectively included 457 patients with NVAF first receiving RFCA and classified them into the recurrent or non-recurrent group.We also investigated the predictive role of SII on AF recurrence following RFCA.Finally,we explored and compared the additional predictive value of the SII after combining with the APPLE score.RESULTS After 12 months of follow-up,113(24.7%)patients experienced recurrence.High SII has been demonstrated to be an independent predictor for postoperative AF recurrence.Receiver operating characteristic and decision curve analysis(DCA),as well as net reclassification improvement(NRI)and integrated discrimination improvement(IDI)results,showed that SII combined with the APPLE score had higher predictive efficiency than using the SII or APPLE score alone.The area under the curve of the combined model(0.662,95%confidence interval:0.602-0.722)significantly increased compared with that of the SII and APPLE scores alone(P<0.001).The combined model resulted in an NRI of 29.6%and 34.1%and IDI of 4.9%and 3.5%in predicting AF recurrence compared with the SII and APPLE scores alone,respectively(all P<0.001).The SII,APPLE score,and their combination demonstrated greater clinical utility than did the treat-all and treat-none strategies over the 20–80%risk threshold according to the DCA.CONCLUSION The SII was a predictor of recurrence after RFCA of AF.Moreover,the SII enhanced the predictability of the APPLE score for post-RFCA AF recurrence,providing valuable insights for physicians to optimise patient selection and develop personalised treatment plans.

Analysis of alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyltransferase after radiofrequency ablation of primary liver cancer: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND Changes in alkaline phosphatase(ALP)andγ-glutamyltransferase(GGT)levels in patients with primary liver cancer(PLC)after radiofrequency ablation(RFA).Hepatocellular carcinoma is a malignant tumor with high incidence worldwide.As a common local treatment,RFA has attracted much attention for its efficacy and influence on liver function.AIM To investigate the effect of serum ALP and GGT levels on the prognosis of patients with PLC treated by RFA.METHODS The preoperative clinical data of 165 patients who were pathologically or clinically diagnosed with PLC and who received RFA in our hospital between October 2018 and June 2023 were collected.The chi-square test was used to compare the data between groups.The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression were used to analyze the associ-ations between serum ALP and GGT levels and overall survival,progression-free survival(PFS)and clinical characteristics of patients before treatment.RESULTS The 1-year survival rates of patients with normal(≤135 U/L)and abnormal(>135 U/L)serum ALP before treatment were 91%and 79%,respectively;the 2-year survival rates were 90%and 68%,respectively;and the 5-year survival rates were 35%and 18%,respectively.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P=0.01).Before treatment,the 1-year survival rates of patients with normal serum GGT levels(≤45 U/L)and abnormal serum GGT levels(>45 U/L)were 95%and 87%,the 2-year survival rates were 85%and 71%,and the 5-year survival rates were 37%and 21%,respectively.The difference between the two groups was statist-ically significant(P<0.001).Serum ALP[hazard ratio(HR)=1.766,95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.068-2.921,P=0.027]and GGT(HR=2.312,95%CI:1.367-3.912,P=0.002)is closely related to the overall survival of PLC patients after RF ablation and is an independent prognostic factor.The 1-year PFS rates were 72%and 50%,the 2-year PFS rates were 52%and 21%,and the 5-year PFS rates were 14%and 3%,respectively.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0001).The 1-year PFS rates were 81%and 56%in patients with normal and abnormal serum GGT levels before treatment,respectively;the 2-year PFS rates were 62%and 35%,respectively;and the 5-year PFS rates were 18%and 7%,respectively,with statistical significance between the two groups(P<0.001).The serum ALP concentration(HR=1.653,95%CI:1.001-2.729,P=0.049)and GGT(HR=1.949,95%CI:1.296-2.930,P=0.001)was closely associated with PFS after RFA in patients with PLC.The proportion of male patients with abnormal ALP levels is high,the Child-Pugh grade of liver function is poor,and the incidence of ascites is high.Among GGT-abnormal patients,the Child-Pugh grade of liver function was poor,the tumor stage was late,the proportion of patients with tumors≥5 cm was high,and the incidence of hepatic encephalopathy was high.CONCLUSION Serum ALP and GGT levels before treatment can be used to predict the prognosis of patients with PLC after RFA,and they have certain guiding significance for the long-term survival of patients with PLC after radiofrequency therapy.

Efficacy and safety of B-ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of primary liver cancer: Systematic review and metaanalysis

BACKGROUND Primary liver cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies in the world.Tradi-tional treatment methods have limitations in terms of efficacy and safety.Ra-diofrequency ablation(RFA)guided by B-ultrasound,as a minimally invasive treatment,has attracted increasing attention in the treatment of primary liver cancer in recent years.AIM To study the efficacy and safety of RFA were compared with those of traditional surgery(TS)for treating small liver cancer.METHODS At least 2 people were required to search domestic and foreign public databases,including foreign databases such as EMBASE,PubMed and the Cochrane Library,and Chinese databases such as the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database,China Biomedical Literature database,Wanfang database and VIP database.Controlled trials of RFA vs conventional surgery for small liver cancer were retrieved from January 2008 to January 2023.They were screened and eva-luated according to the quality evaluation criteria in the Cochrane Handbook of Systematic Reviews.The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 soft-ware.RESULTS A total of 10 studies were included in this study,including 1503 patients in the RFA group and 1657 patients in the surgery group.The results of the meta-ana-lysis showed that there was no significant difference in 1-year overall survival between the two groups(P>0.05),while the 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates and 1-year,3-year and 5-year tumor-free survival rates in the surgery group were greater than those in the RFA group(P<0.05).In terms of complications,the incidence of complications in the RFA group was lower than that in the surgery group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION In terms of long-term survival,TS is better than RFA for small liver cancer patients.However,RFA has fewer complications and is safer.

From Simulation to Reality: A Comprehensive Study on the Efficacy of a Rotating Monopolar and Bipolar Radiofrequency System through In-Silico Modeling and Pre-Clinical and Clinical Validation

Background: Skin aging is an unavoidable process aggravated by environmental agents. Among other energy devices, non-invasive radiofrequency (RF) technology is widely used for skin tightening and body contouring as it is simpler and more affordable than other technologies that also minimize pain and side-effects. However, most of the current RF devices do not provide automatic skin temperature control and it is difficult to achieve controlled, deep, and harmless thermal increase, so treatment performance and safety is dependent on the operator’s movements and expertise. Objective: To show the potential of numerical simulations for optimizing the design of monopolar and bipolar RF electrodes that are capable of providing homogeneous, deep and controlled heating. Materials and methods: In-silico models were developed and analyzed using Comsol Multiphysics software to simulate the RF effect produced in tissue by rotating monopolar and bipolar electrodes with different geometries from the Sculpt & Shape RF device (Sinclair, Spain), operating at frequencies of 0.5 and 1 MHz. Ex-vivo and in-vivo proof-of-concept tests were carried out to validate the simulations. Finally, treatments were performed on 16 subjects and a total of 78 body areas to assess the clinical results generated by the RF electrodes for skin tightening and body contouring. Results: In-silico studies emulated the superficial and deep dispersion of heat due to the release of RF energy into human skin tissue. The rotating electrodes (monopolar and bipolar) and the selected RF frequency (0.5 and 1 MHz) determined the homogeneity of the thermal distribution, the penetration depth (between 4.37 mm and 25.0 mm) and the heating dynamics (between 30 and 100 seconds to reach the target skin temperature), which were confirmed by ex-vivo and in-vivo tests. In addition, real treatments on facial and body areas using skin temperatures of between 43˚C and 44˚C showed consistent results with good clinical efficacy for skin tightening, circumference reduction and cellulite reduction, with no adverse effects and high subject satisfaction. Conclusions: New monopolar and bipolar RF electrodes with rotating technology have been designed and optimized using numerical simulations. The use of in-silico studies and accurate models that reproduce the thermal behavior of human biological tissues can be used to better understand RF devices and to develop superior, efficient, and safer products more quickly.

New Rotative Radiofrequency Technology: A Multicenter Retrospective Study on Efficacy and Safety

Background: Non-ablative radiofrequency (RF) technology is widely used for the treatment of signs of aging, skin laxity, localized fat and cellulite. However, many RF devices suffer from technical limitations that make the results highly dependent on the user’s experience or clinical limitations that compromise safety, efficacy and comfort. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel semi-automatic non-ablative RF device for skin tightening, body shaping and cellulite reduction. Materials and methods: A retrospective multicenter study was performed using a novel rotative RF device with temperature and impedance control (Sculpt&Shape®, Sinclair, Spain). 58 subjects underwent a minimum of 4 treatments every 1-2 weeks. A total of 120 treatments (56.7% body and 43.3% facial) and 1034 sessions were performed. Efficacy was evaluated by 3 researchers using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) and anthropometric measurements were collected. Subject and practitioner satisfaction were recorded. Safety was evaluated by analyzing the perception of pain during the treatment and the side and adverse effects immediately after treatment and over the next 48 hours. Results: Between 25% and 50% improvement was achieved according to the GAIS. Statistically significant (p < 0.01) abdominal fold reduction of 5.1 mm and circumference reduction of 32.0 mm, 16.4 mm and 13.9 mm were recorded for the abdomen, legs and arms, respectively. 77.5% of subjects and 94.9% of practitioners were either satisfied or very satisfied. Minor adverse effects were found in 0.97% of the sessions. Conclusion: This novel semi-automatic rotative RF device has been found to provide treatments that are effective, safe and comfortable for both practitioners and subjects. .

Importance of Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation for Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective: To study the importance of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) guided by ultrasound for inoperable recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods: Forty-seven patients with inoperable recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma underwent percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) under ultrasond between October 1999 and July 2001. Twenty-four patients had single recurrent tumor and 23 patients had multiple lesions. Twelve patients had single lesion with less than 3.5 cm in diameter. All patients were followed up to examine the value of AFP, MRI or CT after PRFA. Kaplan-Meier estimation was used to analyze the survival rate.Results: The 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rate in single lesion group was 65.2%, 37.5% and 37.5% respectively. The survival rate of 1 and 2 years was 41.7% and 19.5% in the multiple lesions group. The 1-, 2-and 3-year survival rate in single lesion groups with less than 3.5 cm in diameter was 83.3%, 51.4% and 51.4% respectively.Conclusion: PRFA is one of the important comprehensive methods for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. According to the size, number and recurrent time, PRFA can be performed separately or combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for inoperable recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. This method can control the recurrence and increase the survival rate effectively. Key words recurrence - hepatocellular cacinoma - radiofrequency ablation

Meta-analysis of radiofrequency ablation in combination with transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To compare radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with RFA monotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: We searched PubMed, Medline, Embase and Chinese databases (CBMdisc and Wanfang data) for randomized controlled trails comparing RFA plus TACE and RFA alone for treatment of HCC from January 2000 to December 2012. The overall survival rate, re-currence-free survival rate, tumor progression rate, and safety were analyzed and compared. The analysis was conducted on dichotomous outcomes and the standard meta-analytical techniques were used. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95%CIs were calculated using either the fixed-effects or random-effects model. For each meta-analysis, the χ2 and I2 tests were first calculated to assess the heterogeneity of the included trials. For P<0.05 and I 2>50%, the assumption of homogeneity was deemed invalid, and the random-effects model wasused; otherwise, data were assessed using the fixed-effects model. All statistical analysis was conducted us-ing Review manager (version 4.2.2.) from the Cochrane collaboration. RESULTS: Eight randomized controlled trials were identified as eligible for inclusion in this analysis and included 598 patients with 306 treated with RFA plus TACE and 292 with RFA alone. Our data analysis indicated that RFA plus TACE was associated a sig-nificantly higher overall survival rate (OR 1-year=2.96, 95%CI: 1.84-7.74, P<0.001; OR 2-year=3.72, 95%CI: 1.24-11.16, P=0.02; OR 3-year=2.65, 95%CI: 1.81-3.86, P<0.001) and recurrence-free survival rate (OR 3-year=3.00, 95%CI: 1.75-5.13, P<0.001; OR 5-year=2.26, 95%CI: 1.43-3.57, P=0.0004) vs that of RFA alone. The tumor progression rate in patients treated with RFA alone was higher than that of RFA plus TACE (OR=0.60, 95%CI: 0.42-0.88, P=0.008) and there was no significant difference on major complications between two different kinds of treatment (OR=1.20, 95%CI: 0.31-4.62, P=0.79). Additionally, the meta-analysis data of subgroups revealed that the survival rate was significantly higher in patients with intermediate-and large-size HCC underwent RFA plus TACE than in those underwent RFA monotherapy; however, there was no significant difference between RFA plus TACE and RFA on survival rate for small HCC. CONCLUSION: The combination of RFA with TACE has advantages in improving overall survival rate, and pro-vides better prognosis for patients with intermediate-and large-size HCC.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization followed by immediate radiofrequency ablation for large solitary hepatocellular carcinomas

AIM: To assess the technical safety and efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with immediate radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for large hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) (maximum diameter ≥ 5 cm). METHODS: Individual lesions in 18 patients with HCCs (mean maximum diameter: 7.5 cm; range: 5.1-15.5 cm) were treated by TACE combined with percutaneous RFA between January 2010 and June 2012. All of the patients had previously undergone one to four cycles of TACE treatment. Regular imaging and laboratory tests were performed to evaluate the rate of technical success, technique-related complications, local-regional tumor responses, recurrence-free survival time and survival rate after treatment.RESULTS: Technical success was achieved for all 18 visible HCCs. Complete response (CR) was observed in 17 cases, and partial response was observed in 1 case 1 mo after intervention. The CR rate was 94.4%. Local tumors were mainly characterized by coagulative necrosis. During follow-up (2-29 mo), the mean recurrencefree survival time was 16.8 ± 4.0 mo in 17 cases of CR. The estimated overall survival rate at 6, 12, and 18 mo was 100%. No major complications were observed. Levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the blood of 17 patients transiently increased on the third day after treatment (ALT 200.4 ± 63.4 U/L vs 24.7 ± 9.3 U/L, P < 0.05; AST 228.1 ± 25.4 U/L vs 32.7 ± 6.8 U/L, P < 0.05). Severe pain occurred in three patients, which was controlled with morphine and fentanyl. CONCLUSION: TACE combined with immediate RFA is a safe and effective treatment for large solitary HCCs. Severe pain is a major side effect, but can be controlled by morphine.

Major complications after radiofrequency ablation for liver tumors:Analysis of 255 patients

AIM:To investigate the major complications after radiofrequency ablation(RFA) for the treatment of liver tumors and analyze possible risk factors that precipitate these complications.METHODS:From March 2001 to April 2008,255 patients with liver tumors(205 male,50 female;age range,18-89 years;mean age,56.0 years) who received RFA were enrolled in this study.Of these patients,212 had hepatocellular carcinoma,39 had metastatic liver tumors and four had cholangiocellular carcinoma.One hundred and forty eight patients had a single tumor,and 107 had multiple tumors.Maximum diameter of the tumors ranged 1.3-20 cm(mean,5.1 cm).All patients were treated with a cooled-tip perfusion electrode attached to a radiofrequency generator(Radionics,Burlington,MA,USA).RFA was performed via the percutaneous approach(n = 257),laparoscopy(n = 7),or open surgical treatment(n = 86).The major complications related to RFA were recorded.The resultant data were analyzed to determine risk factors associated these complications.RESULTS:Among the 255 patients,425 liver tumors were treated and 350 RFA sessions were performed.Thirty-seven(10%) major complications were observed which included 13 cases of liver failure,10 cases of hydrothorax requiring drainage,three casesof tumor seeding,one case of upper gastrointestinal bleeding,one case ofintrahepatic abscess,one case of bile duct injury,one case of cardiac arrest,and five cases of hyperglycemia.Seven patients had more than two complications.Liver failure was the most severe complication and was associated with the highest mortality.Eleven patients died due to worsening liver decompensation.Child-Pugh classification(P = 0.001) and choice of approach(P = 0.045) were related to post-treatment liver failure,whereas patient age,tumor size and number were not significant factors precipitating this complication.CONCLUSION:RFA can be accepted as a relatively safe procedure for the treatment of liver tumors.However,attention should be paid to possible complications even though the incidences of these complications are rare.Careful patient selection and the best approach choice(percutaneous,laparoscopy,or laparotomy) will help to minimize the incidence and morbidity rate of complications which occur after RFA.

Radiofrequency ablation or percutaneous ethanol injection for the treatment of liver tumors

The liver is a common location of both primary and secondary malignancies. For unresectable liver cancer, many local ablative therapies have been developed. These include e.g., percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), percutaneous acetic acid injection, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cryoablation, microwave ablation, laserinduced thermotherapy, and high-intensity focused ultrasound. RFA has recently gained interest and is the most widely applied thermoablative technique. RFA allows more effective tumor control in fewer treatment sessions compared with PEI, but with a higher rate of complications. However, there are certain circumstances where PEI therapy represents a better strategy to control liver tumors than RFA, especially in situations where RFA is difficult, for example when large vessels surround the tumor. In the context of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), both RFA and PEI are feasible and of benefit in non-operable patients. RFA seems superior to PEI in HCC > 2 cm, and the combination of interventions may be of benefit in selected patients. Liver resection is superior to RFA for patients with HCC meeting the Milan criteria, but RFA can be employed in tumors ≤ 3 cm and where there is an increased expected operative mortality. In addition, some lines of evidence indicate that RFA and PEI can be employed as a bridge to liver transplantation. The use of RFA in colorectal liver metastases is currently limited to unresectable disease and for patients unfit for surgery. The aim of this article is to summarize the current status of RFA in the management of liver tumors and compare it to the cheap and readily available technique of PEI.

Review of endoscopic radiofrequency in biliopancreatic tumours with emphasis on clinical benefits, controversies and safety

Most pancreatic cancers and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas are unresectable at the time of diagnosis, and even in case of a resectable cancer, for elderly or patients with coexistent comorbidities, surgery is not an option. Current treatment alternatives in these scenarios are very limited. Biliary stenting with selfexpanding metal stents(SEMS) is the mainstay palliative treatment of biliary obstruction due to unresectable pancreatic cancer or cholangiocarcinoma. Nevertheless, more than 50% of SEMS become occluded after 6 mo due to tumour over- and ingrowth, leading to hospital readmissions and reinterventions that significantly impair quality of life. Regimes of chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy also provide minimal survival benefits. Therefore, novel therapies are eagerly awaited. Radiofrequency(RF) energy causes coagulative necrosis leading to local destruction of the accessed malignant tissue and has an established role in the treatment of malignancies in several solid organs, especially liver cancers. However, pancreatic and extrahepatic biliary cancers are not easily accessed by a percutaneous route, making the procedure dangerous. Over the past five years, the development of dedicated devices compatible with endoscopic instruments has offered a minimally invasive option for RF energy delivery in biliopancreatic cancers. Emerging experience with endoscopic RF ablation(RFA) in this setting has been reported in the literature, but little is known about its feasibility, efficacy and safety. A literature review makes it clear that RFA in biliopancreatic tumours is feasible with high rates of technical success and acceptable safety profile. Although available data suggest a benefit of survival with RFA, there is not enough evidence to draw a firm conclusion about its efficacy. For this reason, prospective randomized trials comparing RFA with standard palliative treatments with quality-of-life and survival endpoints are required. Anecdotal reportshave also highlighted a potential curative role of RFA in small pancreatic tumours and benign conditions, such as ductal extension of ampullomas, intrahepatic adenomas or non-tumoural biliary strictures. These newest indications also deserve further examination in larger series of studies.