Radiofrequency Ablation for Colorectal Liver Metastases

AIM: The significance of radiofrequency ablation(RFA)for colorectal liver metastases(CRLM)remains to be elucidated. Therefore, this retrospective study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of RFA for local recurrence of CRLM. SUBJECTS: Between June 2005 and June 2017, we retrospectively examined 63 patients(137 nodules)with CRLM who underwent RFA. RESULTS: The local recurrence rate was 36.5%, and the median local recurrence free survival(LRFS)was 26.3 months. We compared treatment background between the 2 groups with(50 nodules)and without(87 nodules)local recurrence. In the multivariate analysis, tumor size of the ablated lesion and method for ablation(direct tumor puncture)were independent risk factors for local recurrence. Receiver operating characteristic curve for tumor size of the ablated lesion showed an optimal cutoff value for tumor size of 1.8 cm(AUC=0.734, 95%CI: 0.612-0.855, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: RFA for effective control of local recurrence of CRLM might be suitable for selected patients with tumor size of ablated lesion ofC1.8 cm and no touch ablation method.