Postoperative recurrent factors and therapeutic and preventive strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma

Prevention of postoperative local recurrence by combined radiofrequency ablation of residual liver section during primary liver cancer resection

BACKGROUND

Surgical resection is the main method that may cure liver cancer. Radiofrequency ablation treatment of small liver cancer can also achieve the same effect as surgical resection, but the high postoperative recurrence rate greatly limits its therapeutic effect. To prevent or reduce local recurrence of postoperative residual liver section, we designed a combined treatment method.

AIM

To explore the preventive effect of a new method for treating residual liver section during primary liver cancer resection on local tumor recurrence after surgery.

METHODS

The clinical data of 17 cases undergoing primary liver cancer resection by surgery combined with radiofrequency ablation (8 cases of laparoscopy and 9 cases of open surgery) from October 2016 to September 2019 were retrospectively reviewed to analyze local tumor recurrence after operation.

RESULTS

No severe postoperative complications occurred in all patients. The patients were followed every 3 mo after surgery, and had been followed for 6 mo to 36 mo, with a median follow-up time of 25.7 mo ± 4.4 mo. No local recurrence of residual liver section occurred in all patients. There was one case of abdominal lymph node metastasis at 15 mo after operation and one case of new intrahepatic tumor away from the residual liver section at 18 mo after surgery. These two cases were further treated with modern integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, and live well with tumor now. All other cases are in good condition now. No deaths occurred.

CONCLUSION

Radiofrequency ablation of residual liver section during resection of primary liver cancer can significantly reduce local tumor recurrence and improve patient survival.