Abstract
Objectives
To compare combined percutaneous radiofrequency ablation and ethanol injection (RFA-PEI) with hepatic resection (HR) in the treatment of resectable solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with 2.1–5.0 cm diameter.
Methods
From June 2009 to December 2015, 271 patients whom underwent RFA-PEI (n = 141) or HR (n = 130) in three centres were enrolled. The overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) between groups were compared with Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank tests. Complications, hospital stay and cost were assessed.
Results
The OS rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 93.5%, 72.7%, 58.6% in RFA-PEI group and 82.3%, 57.5%, 51.8% in HR group (p = 0.021). The corresponding 1-, 3- and 5-year RFS rates were 65.8%, 41.3%, 34.3% in RFA-PEI group and 50.5%, 33.8%, 28.4% in HR group (p = 0.038). For patients with 2.1–3.0 cm tumours, the 1-, 3- and 5-year OS after RFA-PEI and HR were 98.0%, 82.3%, 74.2% and 89.4%, 65.1%, 61.9%, respectively (p = 0.024). The corresponding RFS were 79.6%, 54.7%, 45.1% in RFA-PEI group, and 57.6%, 43.9%, 31.7% in HR group, respectively (p = 0.020). RFA-PEI was superior to HR in major complication rates, length of hospital stay and cost (all p < 0.001).
Conclusion
RFA-PEI had a survival benefit over HR in the treatment of solitary HCCs, especially for those with 2.1–3.0 cm in diameter.
Key Points
• RFA-PEI provided superior survival to HR in solitary HCC with 2.1–5.0 cm in diameter.
• RFA-PEI is superior to HR in complications, length of hospital stay and cost.
• RFA-PEI might be an alternative treatment for solitary HCC within 5.0 cm in diameter.
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Abbreviations
- BCLC:
-
Barcelona clinic liver cancer
- CECT:
-
Contrast-enhanced computed tomography
- CEUS:
-
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound
- ECOG:
-
Eastern cooperative oncology group
- HCC:
-
Hepatocellular carcinoma
- HR:
-
Hepatic resection
- LTP:
-
Local tumour progression
- MWA:
-
Microwave ablation
- OS:
-
Overall survival
- PEI:
-
Percutaneous ethanol injection
- RCT:
-
Randomized controlled trial
- RFA:
-
Radiofrequency ablation
- RFS:
-
Recurrence-free survival
- TACE:
-
Transarterial chemoembolization
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Funding
This study has received funding by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81272312; No. 81301842), Pearl River S&T Nova Program of Guangzhou, China (No. 2014J2200087) and Guangdong Medical Science and Technology Foundation (No. 20161192364982).
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The scientific guarantor of this publication is Ming Kuang.
Conflict of interest
The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article.
Statistics and biometry
One of the authors (Bin Li) has significant statistical expertise.
Informed consent
Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects (patients) in this study.
Ethical approval
Institutional review board approval was obtained.
Methodology
• retrospective
• observational
• multicentre study
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Chen, S., Peng, Z., Lin, M. et al. Combined percutaneous radiofrequency ablation and ethanol injection versus hepatic resection for 2.1–5.0 cm solitary hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective comparative multicentre study. Eur Radiol 28, 3651–3660 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5371-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5371-9