Retrospective Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2021. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Jul 6, 2021; 9(19): 5064-5072
Published online Jul 6, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i19.5064
Microwave ablation combined with hepatectomy for treatment of neuroendocrine tumor liver metastases
Jin-Zhu Zhang, Shu Li, Wei-Hua Zhu, Da-Fang Zhang
Jin-Zhu Zhang, Shu Li, Wei-Hua Zhu, Da-Fang Zhang, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, China
Author contributions: Zhang JZ designed the study, acquired and analyzed the data, and wrote the paper; Li S acquired and analyzed the data, and revised the paper; Zhu WH acquired and analyzed the data, and revised the paper; Zhang DF designed the study, revised the paper, and supervised the study.
Supported by Peking University People’s Hospital Scientific Research Development Funds, No. RDY2017-28.
Institutional review board statement: The study was reviewed and approved by the Peking University People’s Hospital Institutional Review Board (No. 2020PHB334-01).
Informed consent statement: Patients were not required to give informed consent to the stud because the analysis used anonymous clinical data that were obtained after each patient agreed to treatment by written consent.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors have no conflict of interest related to the manuscript.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Da-Fang Zhang, MD, PhD, Associate Chief Physician, Associate Professor, Surgeon, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, No. 11 South Street, West Straight Gate, Beijing 100044, China. zhangdafang03868@pkuph.edu.cn
Received: January 14, 2021
Peer-review started: January 14, 2021
First decision: April 4, 2021
Revised: April 13, 2021
Accepted: May 6, 2021
Article in press: May 6, 2021
Published online: July 6, 2021
Processing time: 161 Days and 2.9 Hours
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
Research background

Hepatectomy is the first choice for treating neuroendocrine tumor liver metastases. However, most patients with neuroendocrine tumor liver metastases are not suitable for hepatectomy. Ablation combined with hepatectomy can be an alternative to liver resection.

Research motivation

This study evaluated the clinical efficacy of microwave ablation combined with hepatectomy for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors with liver metastases. It provides new treatment options for patients who are not suitable for only hepatectomy.

Research objectives

This study aimed to explore the clinical effect of microwave ablation combined with hepatectomy for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumor liver metastases.

Research methods

In this study, the data of patients who underwent microwave ablation combined with hepatectomy for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumor liver metastases from June 2015 to January 2018 were reviewed.

Research results

Eleven patients with neuroendocrine tumor liver metastases were treated by microwave ablation combined with hepatectomy between June 2015 and January 2018. One patient developed respiratory failure, renal insufficiency, and pneumonia after the operation. No patient died postoperatively during hospitalization. The mean overall survival time after surgery was 34.1 (± 3.7) mo, and the median progression-free survival time was 8 (range, 2 to 51) mo.

Research conclusions

Microwave ablation combined with hepatectomy not only makes the patients obtain a survival rate similar to that of patients undergoing hepatectomy, but also has a low incidence of postoperative complications. For patients with neuroendocrine tumor liver metastases who are not suitable for hepatectomy, ablation combined with hepatectomy can be used as a new treatment option.

Research perspectives

Due to the low incidence of neuroendocrine tumors, there are currently no prospective studies on neuroendocrine tumor liver metastases. Limited research suggests that ablation combined with hepatectomy for neuroendocrine tumor liver metastasis can prolong the survival rate of patients and improve the quality of life of patients. Prospective or retrospective studies of large cases will be needed in the future.