Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with radiofrequency ablation can improve survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumour thrombosis: Extending the indication for ablation?

A prognostic nomogram for colorectal cancer liver metastases after percutaneous thermal ablation

“…In patients with vascular/biliary tumour thrombosis, the thrombosis was treated via thermal ablation. Specific ablation procedures for tumour thrombosis have been reported in previous papers [18,37].…”

“…Thermal ablation, including radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA), has become more widely accepted as a curative therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma, given its comparable efficacy with surgical resection, along with its cost-effectiveness, safety and repeatability [16][17][18][19][20]. MWA is more capable of yielding larger ablation volumes with shorter duration, and is more resistant to the "heat-sink effect" [21].…”

Multidisciplinary management of hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus - Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgical Hospital consensus statement

“…Hence, it is important that the therapy be used with caution and in combination with other methods. Zheng et al [79] reported 134 cases of PVTT patients undergoing RFA with TACE and reported a median survival time of 29.5 months; 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 63%, 40%, and 23%, respectively, concluding RFA + TACE as an effective therapy. The Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgical Hospital [80] reported 108 cases of PVTT patients with 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates of 55.56%, 33.58%, and 22.38% after LA and other comprehensive treatments.…”

The strategies for treating primary hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus

“…RFA has the following advantages: minimally invasive, safe, economic, less pain, rapid recovery, repeatable treatment, etc. Zheng JS et al [50] retrospectively assessed 134 HCC patients with PVTT treated with TACE combined with RFA, the median overall survival time was 29.5 months (range 16.6e42.4 months), the 1, 3, and 5 year survival rates were 63%, 40%, and 23%, concluded that TACE combined with RFA was an effective therapy. Hirooka M et al [23] retrospectively analyzed 20 HCC patients with PVTT treated with RFA plus TACI, the complete response rate was 30%, partial response rate 55%, stable disease rate 10%, and progressive disease rate 5%; the cumulative survival rates at 6, 12, and 24 months were 100%, 89.7%, and 78.8%, respectively; the median survival time was 953 days; suggested that the massreduction treatment by RFA plus TACI is safe and can improve prognosis for the HCC patients with PVTT.…”