Journal Article

Switching Monopolar Radiofrequency Ablation Using a Separable Cluster Electrode in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Prospective Study

Lee, Jeong Min, Yu, Su Jong, Yoon, Jeong-Hee, Han, Joon Koo, Lee, Jeong-Hoon, Lee, Dong Ho, Kim, Yoon Jun, Choi, Jin Woo, Suh, Kyung-Suk, Yoon, Jung-Hwan

2016

Overview

This study was conducted to evaluate the outcomes of multi-channel switching RFA using a separable cluster electrode in patients with HCC. From November 2011 to July 2013, 79 patients with 98 HCCs < 5 cm were enrolled and treated with RFA using a multi-channel switching radiofrequency system and a separable cluster electrode under the guidance of a real-time fusion imaging system. The primary and secondary endpoints were the 3-year local tumor progression (LTP) rate and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate, respectively. For post hoc analyses, LTP, RFS, and major complication rates were retrospectively compared with a historical control group treated with RFA using the same radiofrequency system but with multiple internally-cooled electrodes. The technique success rate of the 98 tumors was 100%. Cumulative 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year LTP rates were 3.4%, 6.9%, and 12.4%, respectively. For patient-level data, cumulative 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year RFS rates were 83.9%, 68.6%, and 45.4%, respectively. On post hoc analyses, none of the baseline characteristics showed a significant difference between the separable cluster electrode and multiple internally-cooled electrodes group. Cumulative LTP and RFS rates of the two groups also showed no significant difference (p = 0.401 and p = 0.881, respectively). Finally, major complication rates of the separable cluster electrode group (5.0%, 4/79) and multiple internally-cooled electrodes group (5.9%, 4/74) were also comparable (p = 1.000). Switching monopolar RFA using a separable cluster electrode is a feasible and efficient technique for the treatment of HCCs smaller than 5 cm, providing comparable local tumor control to multiple internally-cooled electrodes. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02745483.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Aged / Biology and Life Sciences / Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - surgery / Care and treatment / Catheter Ablation - instrumentation / Clinical trials / Clusters / Electrodes / Ethanol / Female / Hepatocellular carcinoma / Hospitals / Humans / Internal medicine / Liver cancer / Liver Neoplasms - surgery / Male / Medical prognosis / Medicine / Medicine and Health Sciences / Middle Aged / Patient outcomes / Patients / Physical Sciences / Prospective Studies / Radio frequency / Radiofrequency ablation / Research and Analysis Methods / Switching / Treatment Outcome / Tumors