Abstract
In recent years, a combination of intervention therapies has been widely applied
in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). One such combined strategy is
based on the combination of the percutaneous approach, such as radiofrequency
ablation (RFA), and the intra-arterial locoregional approach, such as
trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Several types of evidence have supported
the feasibility and benefit of combined therapy, despite some studies reporting
conflicting results and outcomes. The aim of this review was to explain the
technical aspects of different combined treatments and to comprehensively analyze
and compare the clinical efficacy and safety of this combined treatment option
and monotherapy, either as TACE or RFA alone, in order to provide clinicians with
an unbiased opinion and valuable information. Based on a literature review and
our experience, combined treatment seems to be a safe and effective option in the
treatment of patients with early/intermediate HCC when surgical resection is not
feasible; furthermore, this approach provides better results than RFA and TACE
alone for the treatment of large HCC, defined as those exceeding 3 cm in size. It
can also expand the indication for RFA to previously contraindicated "complex
cases", with increased risk of thermal ablation related complications due to
tumor location, or to "complex patients" with high bleeding risk.
Lingua originale | Inglese |
---|---|
pagine (da-a) | 1935-1942 |
Numero di pagine | 8 |
Rivista | World Journal of Gastroenterology |
Volume | 22 |
DOI | |
Stato di pubblicazione | Pubblicato - 2016 |
Keywords
- Ablation
- Chemoembolization
- Combined treatment
- Hepatocellular carcinoma
- Microwave