Abstract:
Objective : To compare the clinical results of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) with those ofsurgical re-resection (SRR) in patients with postoperative recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (RHCC).
Methods : Clinical data from 76 RHCC patients seen in our hospital from May 2002 to October 2007 were retro-spectively reviewed. According to the treatment they received, the patients were divided into two groups: theSRR group (
n=31) and the PRFA group (
n=45). Survival time, tumor-free survival time, hospitalization timeand treatment-related complications were compared between the two groups. We employed the Cox propor-tional hazards model to analyze the risk factors for re-recurrence and decreased survival time after repeatedhepatectomy.
Results : The rate of complete elimination of tumor was similar in the two groups (100% vs.88.9%,
P=0.147). The 1-, 2-, 3- and 5- year recurrence rates were 39.6%, 60.9%, 77.6%, and 83.2%, respec-tively, in the SRR group. The 1-, 2-, 3- and 5- year re-recurrence rates were 45.2%, 71.6%, 80.1%, and86.7%, respectively, in the PRFA group, not significantly different from those of the SRR group (
P=0.711). The1-, 2-, 3- and 5- year survival rates after recurrence were 82.9%, 64.7%, 46.4%, and 34.8%, respectively, inthe SRR group and 81.8%, 60.1%, 40.3%, and 24.2%, respectively, in the PRFA group (
P=0.599). The riskfactors for re-recurrence after re-resection or ablation included the time period between the first surgical resec-tion and the recurrence and the number of recurrent cancer nodes. The number of recurrent cancer nodesand the timing of re-recurrence were prognostic factors for patient survival. The incidence of treatment-relatedcomplications in the SRR group was slightly higher than that in the PRFA group, with no significant differencedetected (29.0% vs. 13.3%,
P=0.091). Compared with the SRR group, the PFRA group needed fewer bloodtransfusions (0% vs. 35.3%,
P=0.000) and less hospitalization time (7.0d±0.8d vs. 21.9d±1.6d,
P=0.000).
Conclusion : PRFA can achieve local therapeutic effects and overall survival time equivalent to those of surgi-cal re-resection. PRFA is more cost-effective, less invasive and should be considered an eligible treatment forrecurrent HCC.