The Factors Related to the Prognosis of Solitary Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Radiofrequency Ablation |
In-Kwon Chung, M.D., Min-Jae Park, M.D., Ki-Tae Kwon, M.D., Young-Dae Park, M.D.,
Yun-Jin Chung, M.D., Sung-Woo Jeon, M.D., Myung-Kwon Lee, M.D., Hyang-Eun Seo, M.D.,
Young-Doo Lee, M.D., Chang-Min Cho, M.D., Won-Young Tak, M.D., Young-Oh Kweon, M.D.,
Sung-Kook Kim, M.D. and Yong-Hwan Choi, M.D. |
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea |
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ABSTRACT |
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Background/Aims Several risk factors, such as size and location, are related to local recurrence after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The objective s of this study were to clarify factors related to prognosis. Methods: From October 1999 to December 2002, we performed RFA for 107 consecutive patients with solitary HCC. We evaluated spiral computed tomography and serum alpha-fetoprotein level every 3 months after RFA. Seven possible factors for prognosis were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model: tumor size, tumor location, age, sex, etiology, platelet count, and Child-Pugh classification. Overall survival and disease free survival rate were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and differences between two groups were compared using the log rank test. Results: The Kaplan-Meier estimates of overall survival after radiofrequency ablation were 90.5% at 12 months, 67.4% at 24 months and 46.4% at 36 months and disease free survival were 71.4%, 46.7% and 20.9%, respectively. Using the Cox proportional hazards regression model, it was shown that with regard to overall survival and disease free survival, Child-Pugh classification (P=0.001, P=0.026) and platelet count (P<0.001, P=0.002) were statistically significant factors. The other factors did not have a statistically significant relationship to overall survival and disease free survival. Conclusions: The size and location known as local recurrence factors were not statistically significant with regard to survival and disease free survival. The Child-Pugh classification and platelet count, that reflect the liver function at the time of RFA, were significant factors for prognosis. (Korean J Hepatol 2005;11:371-380) |
KeyWords:
Hepatocellular carcinoma, Radiofrequency ablation, Prognosis |
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