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

INTRODUCTIONLiver biopsy is considered the definitive investigation in the diagnosis and management of liver disease. This study describes the experience of performing transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) over the last 9 years in a local single centre.

MATERIALS AND METHODSA retrospective review of consecutive TJLB procedures performed at our institution was conducted. A total of 152 patients (74 males and 78 females), with a mean age of 47.4 years (range, 13 to 83 years) underwent a total of 154 TJLB procedures at our institution between March 2003 and November 2011. The principal indication for TJLB was severe coagulopathy in over 80% of patients. The technical success, number of passes, histological adequacy and complication rates were analysed.

RESULTSThe procedural success rate was 98.7% (152 out of 154 procedures). Adequate material for diagnosis was obtained in 149 out of 152 (98.0%) technically successful procedures. There was procedure related morbidity in 8 patients (5.2%) of which all but one were self-limiting requiring no further intervention. We also performed hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurements in 19% of patients at the time of TJLB.

CONCLUSIONTJLB performed at our institution is a safe and reliable technique in patients in whom traditional percutaneous liver biopsy may be hazardous. TJLB has a high technical success rate as well as a high diagnostic yield with a low complication rate. TJLB also has the added benefit of performing HVPG, which is of increasing importance in management and prognostication of chronic liver disease.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biopsy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Jugular Veins ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Diseases ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult