UNLABELLEDThe aim of this paper was to study the efficacy, side effects and complications of radiofrequency (RF) ablation of primary and metastatic liver malignancies.

MATERIALS AND METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed 57 patients (39 men, 18 women; mean age, 63 years; age range, 44 to 83 years) who underwent RF ablation for liver malignancies from January 2002 to December 2004. A total of 87 tumours were ablated - 71 (81.6%) hepatocellular carcinomas and 16 (18.4%) metastases (from primaries in the colon, stomach and pancreas). RF ablation was performed either percutaneously (n = 71) under conscious sedation or intraoperatively (n = 16) under general anaesthesia. Follow-up ranged from 1 month to 41 months (mean, 15.2) and included computed tomography (CT) 1 day, 1 month and 3 months after ablation, and half-yearly thereafter. Patients were observed for local tumour progression and for the emergence of new tumours.

RESULTSFour patients with a total of 5 tumours were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 82 tumours treated, complete ablation was attained in 66 tumours after a single procedure, giving a primary effectiveness rate of 80.5%. Seven (8.5%) required 2 procedures to achieve complete ablation, giving a secondary effectiveness rate of 89% after 2 ablations. One tumour (1.2%) required 3 procedures to achieve complete ablation. One tumour required 4 procedures to date, with the latest follow-up CT still demonstrating incomplete ablation. Two tumours (2.4%) had an initial RF ablation and subsequent transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE). One tumour had an initial RF ablation followed by 32Phosphorus-biosilicon (BrachySil) injection, the latter as part of a Phase IIA trial. One tumour required 2 RF ablations and a subsequent TACE. Lastly, 3 tumours received initial RF ablation but subsequent local tumour progression was not treated as the patients were deemed unfit for repeat ablation. No procedure-related deaths or major complications were encountered. Minor complications were reported in 2 patients (3.8%) - subcapsular haematoma and thermal injury to the adjacent gastric antrum, both not necessitating surgical intervention.

CONCLUSIONSRF ablation is an effective, safe and relatively simple procedure for the treatment of unresectable liver malignancies.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; mortality ; secondary ; surgery ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; mortality ; secondary ; surgery ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retreatment ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted

Background & Objective: Disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS) are widely used in Western countries. In China, however, the current treatment patterns of MS patients are not well characterized. This is to explore the gap between the current treatments in Guangzhou, Southern China and those given in Western countries. Methods: We performed a survey of MS patients at department of neurology, a tertiary MS referral centre in Guangzhou, concerning treatments of MS in Southern China. The clinical data in patients were collected. The initial treatment, drug withdrawal or switching profile, and therapeutic effect of existing treatments in MS patients were analyzed. Results: The ratio of MS patients who receive DMTs in Guangzhou China is extremely low. Among the 178 patients studied, only 28.09% received initial treatment with DMTs. MS patients who receive initial treatment with first-line DMTs have higher drug withdrawal rates (32.6%) and drug switching rates (30.43%) than those of western populations. The main reasons for withdrawal of first-line DMTs were doctor’s advice (maintenance of remission) (40.00%), economic burden(20.00%), and no channels to buy drugs(13.33%). In MS patients initially treated with first-line DMTs who switched to other drugs, a gap between treatments was common (8/14;57.14%). There were 18 patients with highly active MS receiving treatment with rituximab. Annual relapse rate after treatment significantly decreased than that before treatment (0.74 vs. 1.50 , P < 0.001). Conclusions: DMTs for MS in Guangzhou, Southern China appear to lag behind those in Western countries. Much work is needed to improve drug accessibility and affordability of DMTs in China. Rituximab is an option for highly active MS in limited medical-resource countries.