Case Report
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World J Gastroenterol. Oct 28, 2010; 16(40): 5135-5138
Published online Oct 28, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i40.5135
Local recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after radiofrequency ablation
Wang-Jun Liao, Min Shi, Jin-Zhang Chen, Ai-Min Li
Wang-Jun Liao, Min Shi, Jin-Zhang Chen, Ai-Min Li, Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou 510515, China
Author contributions: Liao WJ designed research and wrote the paper; Liao WJ, Shi M, Chen JZ and Li AM performed research.
Correspondence to: Wang-Jun Liao, MD, PhD, Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou 510515, China. nfyyliaowj@163.com
Telephone: +86-20-62787731 Fax: +86-20-62787731
Received: July 28, 2010
Revised: August 26, 2010
Accepted: September 2, 2010
Published online: October 28, 2010
Abstract

A 51-year-old Chinese male with a 20-year history of hepatitis B was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma in the right anterior portion of the liver, sized 3.5 cm × 3.2 cm, and was treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) on December 18, 2001. The patient did not receive antiviral therapy for hepatitis B virus after RFA. The treated lesion reduced gradually and reached its minimum size of 1.7 cm × 1.5 cm seven years later on November 18, 2008. However computed tomography findings revealed that a recurrence lesion of 6.0 cm × 4.8 cm which was histologically confirmed overlapped the previous treated lesion at the 8th year on December 3, 2009. Although recurrence at 8 years after curative RFA is a rare event, such a possibility must be kept in mind. To find and treat the recurrence lesion promptly, long-term and close monitoring is warranted after RFA. Meanwhile, the recurrence-prevention therapy is as important as close monitoring for those patients with a history of hepatitis B.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Radiofrequency ablation; Recurrence