Radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma in difficult locations: Strategies and long-term outcomes

Table 6 Comparison of major complications between the difficult and control groups

Group	Number of patients	Number of RFA	Complication (%)	Common complication name
Control	88	121	1 (0.8)1	Needle seeding (1/1)
Difficult	382	568	28 (4.9)1
Near large vessels or bile ducts	87	151	6 (4.0)	Bile duct injury (4/6)
Near peripheral structures	232	309	18 (5.8)	GI perforation (3/18) Bloody pleural (3/18) Needle seeding (3/18)
Under liver capsule	63	108	4 (3.7)	Hemoperitoneum (2/4) Needle seeding (2/4)
Total	470	689	29 (4.2)

¹The major complication rate in the difficult group was significantly higher than that in the control group (4.9% vs 0.8%, P = 0.041). RFA: Radiofrequency ablation.