Safety and efficacy of radiofrequency thermal ablation in advanced liver tumors

Hypothesis: Radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) can be performed safely and effectively to control local disease in patients with advanced, unresectable liver tumors. Design, Setting, and Patients: Prospective study of 76 patients with unresectable liver tumors who underwent RFA at a private tertiary referral hospital. Interventions: Ninety-nine RFA operations were performed to ablate 328 tumors. Main Outcome Measures: Complications and local recurrence. Results: There was 1 death (1%), major complications occurred in 7 operations (7%), and minor complications occurred in 10 operations (10%). Local recurrence was identified in 30 tumors (9%) at a mean follow-up of 15 months. Size (P<.001), vascular invasion (P<.001), and total volume ablated (P<.001) were associated with recurrence but the number of tumors was not (P = .39). Conclusion: Radiofrequency thermal ablation provides local control of advanced liver tumors with low recurrence and acceptable morbidity.