Introduction: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a well-established method for palliative therapy of unresectable liver tumors. We use an open or percutaneous approach for the treatment of colorectal liver metastases (CLM).
Method: Clinical data of patients undergoing percutaneous or open RFA for CLM between January 2001 and January 2015 were included in the retrospective study. We evaluated clinical factors for overall survival (OS), no evidence of disease (NED) and non-ablation in relation to tumor sizes and numbers, type of approach and type of used probes.
Results: 147 patients underwent RFA for CLM in this time period. Mean age was 65 years. 168 RFAs were performed in total. OS was influenced by a high number of censors. OS for the first and third years was 93.6% and 61% with no statistical differences between the percutaneous and open approach. NED was significantly shorter in patients with the percutaneous approach. NED was not influenced neither by size nor number of the lesions. A higher risk of non-ablation was observed as statistically significant in patients with percutaneous RFA. A higher, although not statistically significant, risk of non-ablation was also observed for larger metastases. Patients with percutaneous RFA showed a shorter stay in the hospital and fewer complications.
Conclusion: RFA is an alternative approach to the treatment of unresectable CLM. In our study the open approach was associated with a lower risk of non-ablation. Percutaneous RFA showed a lower risk of complications and a shorter stay in the hospital.
Key words: radiofrequency ablation percutaneous RFA colorectal liver metastases CLM palliative therapy.