Comparison of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation, and conservative treatment for decompensated cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

The LRFA group of patients had better clinical outcomes in terms of survival and complication rates in comparison with the TACE group or conservative treatment in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis, especially in TMN patients with stage II HCC. LRFA is thus an appropriate alternative treatment for poor liver function among patients with HCC.

Treatment and outcomes of treating of hepatocellular carcinoma among Medicare recipients in the United States: A population-based study

“…It is also unclear how many patients of ours received transplants outside of established criteria. Previous studies support our finding that ablation seems to be more effective than TACE [13,14]. However, our data suggest in a population-based sample that neither is an effective long-term curative strategy.…”

Laparoscopic Ablation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Cirrhotic Patients Unsuitable for Liver Resection or Percutaneous Treatment: A Cohort Study

“…Our results broadly overlap with reports from other study groups, particularly concerning the safety of the procedure, with no perioperative mortality and a low incidence of specific morbidity (25%), which is comparable with other experiences [10] [21] [24] [26]; our conversion rate (2%) was also in line with the literature [14]. Our median postoperative hospital stay was relatively short (3 days) and similar to that of other experiences [27] [–30].…”

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma as a bridge to liver transplantation

“…Furthermore, adequate tumor control using TACE typically requires repeated treatment sessions, raising concern over complication rates and progressive liver failure. 18,21,[35][36][37] Above all, RFA, when employing the proper technique, is a more reliable means of achieving consistent necrosis given its direct thermalbased tissue destruction, whereas the success of TACE is dependent on a variety of uncontrollable factors associated with tumor vascularity and biology. Therefore, for small (Ͻ3-5 cm) unresectable HCC, as is found in OLT candidates selected according to Milan criteria, RFA is now universally emerging as the treatment of choice.…”