Liver Cancer
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 14, 2005; 11(10): 1439-1444
Published online Mar 14, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i10.1439
Factors for early tumor recurrence of single small hepatocellular carcinoma after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation therapy
Hsien-Chung Yu, Jin-Shiung Cheng, Kwok-Hung Lai, Chi-Pin Lin, Gin-Ho Lo, Chiun-Ku Lin, Ping-I Hsu, Hoi-Hung Chan, Ching-Chu Lo, Wei-Lun Tsai, Wen-Chi Chen
Hsien-Chung Yu, Jin-Shiung Cheng, Kwok-Hung Lai, Gin-Ho Lo, Chiun-Ku Lin, Ping-I Hsu, Hoi-Hung Chan, Ching-Chu Lo, Wei-Lun Tsai, Wen-Chi Chen, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital and National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan, China
Chi-Pin Lin, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, God’s Help Hospital, Taiwan, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Research Grants VGHKS-92104 from Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, China
Correspondence to: Dr. Jin-Shiung Cheng, Division of Gastroenterology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, 386, Ta-Chung 1st Road, Kaohsiung 813, Taiwan, China. jcheng@isca.vghks.gov.tw
Telephone: + 86-7-3422121-2075 Fax: + 86-7-3468237
Received: September 8, 2004
Revised: September 9, 2004
Accepted: September 15, 2004
Published online: March 14, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the factors affecting the early tumor recurrence within one year in cirrhotic patients having a single small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after complete tumor necrosis by radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy.

METHODS: Thirty patients with a single small HCC received RFA therapy by a RFA 2000 generator with LeVeen needle. Tri-phase computerized tomogram was followed every 2 to 3 mo after RFA. The clinical effects and tumor recurrence were recorded.

RESULTS: The initial complete tumor necrosis rate was 86.7%. Twenty-two patients were followed for more than one year. The local and overall recurrence rates were 13.6% and 36.4%, 33.3% and 56.2%, 46.6% and 56.2% at 12, 24 and 30 mo, respectively. No major complication or procedure-related mortality was found. The risk factors for early local tumor recurrence within one year were larger tumor size, poor pathologic differentiation of tumor cells and advanced tumor staging. The age of patients with new tumor formation within one year was relatively younger (55.1±8.3 vs 66.7±10.8, P = 0.029).

CONCLUSION: Large tumor size, poor pathologic differentiation of tumor cells and advanced tumor staging are the risk factors for early local tumor recurrence within one year, and young age is the positive predictor for new tumor formation within one year.

Keywords: Recurrence; Radiofrequency; Hepatocellular carcinoma