Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in compensated cirrhosis with radio-frequency thermal ablation (RFTA): a prospective study

Abstract BACKGROUND/AIMS: To assess the effectiveness and the safety of radio-frequency thermal ablation (RFTA) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or = 35 g/L, platelet count > or = 100.000/mmc, tumor size < or = 3 cm, complete response at 1 month and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging classification. Overall recurrence rates were 22, 38, and 44% at 12, 24, and 30 months, respectively. One procedure-related death occurred. The proportion of major complications after treatment was 3.9%. CONCLUSIONS: A complete response after RFTA significantly increases survival. The longest survival is obtained in the presence of HCC < or = 3 cm and of higher baseline albumin levels a…