LAPAROSCOPIC RADIOFREQUENCY THERMAL ABLATION OF HEPATIC TUMOURS

Abstract

The majority of patients who have primary or metastatic tumours of the liver are not amenable to surgical excision at the time of �'( presentation because of tumour size, multifocality, or inadequate

functional hepatic reserve.

Unfortunately, most patients with pnmary or secondary liver cancer are not candidates for resection. Moreover, many patients recur within the liver following resection and few of these are candidates for re-resection. For these reasons, increasing interest has been focused on regional treatment methods as they represent new treatment options for such patients. Although radiofrequency thermal ablation is a relatively new modality, promising results have been obtained with. So radiofrequency ablation (RF A) is becoming the most commonly used and perhaps most promising modality for tumour ablation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of readiofrequency thermal ablation, performed during laparoscopy, for the treatment of unresctable hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients. During a two years period, 30 patients affected by "unresectable" hepatocellular carcinoma were treated, 15 patients by laparoscopic radiofrequency thermal ablation. (Group A) 13 patients (86.6%) were in child class B and two patients (13.3%) were in child class A. A total of 19 hepatic lesions were detected. Another 15 patients •f (group B) were treated by percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation.