Radiofrequency Ablation Combined with Hepatectomy for the Treatment of Liver Metastases from Colorectal Cancer

We evaluated hepatectomy combined with radiofrequency ablation(RFA)in patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer for which curative resection is difficult.This study included 13 patients who underwent hepatectomy combined with RFA for liver metastases from colorectal cancer in or before 2015.In 11 patients who were determined to have achieved a complete curative resection, the 50%survival time was 35.4 months, and the 5-year overall survival (OS)rate was 33%. Recurrence at the RFA site was observed in 4 patients. There were 2 patients with a long-term survival of 5-years or longer. The reasons for concomitant use of RFA include deviation from the Makuuchi criteria in 4 patients, control of disease progression in 3 patients, non-curative surgery in 2 patients, difficulty in performing surgical procedures in 2 patients, and refusal by 1 patient, while the reason was unknown in 1 patient.Hepatectomy combined with RFA was selected in patients in whom curative hepatectomy was impossible. Although their 5-year OS rate was lower than that of patients who undergo hepatectomy alone, local control was relatively favorable.These results suggest that hepatectomy combined with RFA for liver metastases from colorectal cancer might be effective in selected cases.