Comparison of Combined Therapy Using Conventional Chemoembolization and Radiofrequency Ablation Versus Conventional Chemoembolization for Ultrasound-Invisible Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Stage 0 or A).
10.3348/kjr.2018.19.6.1130
- Author:
Hyukjoon LEE
1
;
Chang Jin YOON
;
Nak Jong SEONG
;
Sook Hyang JEONG
;
Jin Wook KIM
Author Information
1. Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 13620, Korea. yooncj1@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Chemoembolization;
Radiofrequency ablation;
Hepatocellular carcinoma
- MeSH:
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular*;
Catheter Ablation*;
Humans;
Iodized Oil;
Liver Neoplasms*;
Liver*;
Multivariate Analysis;
Risk Factors;
Ultrasonography
- From:Korean Journal of Radiology
2018;19(6):1130-1139
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic efficacy between conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) and combined therapy using cTACE and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in ultrasound (US)-invisible early stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2008 to June 2016, 167 patients with US-invisible early stage HCCs were treated with cTACE alone (cTACE group; n = 85) or cTACE followed by immediate fluoroscopy-guided RFA targeting intratumoral iodized oil retention (combined group; n = 82). Procedure-related complications, local tumor progression (LTP), time to progression (TTP), and overall survival (OS) were compared between the two groups. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors. RESULTS: There was no major complication in either group. The cTACE group showed higher 1-, 3-, and 5-year LTP rates than the combined group; i.e., 12.5%, 31.7%, and 37.0%, respectively, in the cTACE group; compared to 7.3%, 16.5%, and 16.5%, respectively, in the combined group; p = 0.013. The median TTP was 18 months in the cTACE group and 24 months in the combined group (p = 0.037). Cumulative 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 100%, 93.2%, and 87.7%, respectively, in the cTACE group and 100%, 96.6%, and 87.4%, respectively, in the combined group (p = 0.686). Tumor diameter > 20 mm and cTACE monotherapy were independent risk factors for LTP and TTP. CONCLUSION: Combined therapy using cTACE followed by fluoroscopy-guided RFA is a safe and effective treatment in US-invisible early stage HCCs. It provides less LTP and longer TTP than cTACE alone.