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New Technique In Treating Patients With Liver Cancer Proves Effective, Study Suggests

Date:
April 15, 2008
Source:
American Roentgen Ray Society
Summary:
Use of multipolar radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases is effective and has a relatively low recurrence rate, according to a recent study.
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Use of multipolar radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases is effective and has a relatively low recurrence rate, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at Charité, Campus Benjamin Franklin in Berlin, Germany.

"Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has become a widely used treatment option for patients with primary liver cancer and liver metastases from some primary tumors, if surgery is not an option. However, because of limited sizes of the ablation zones the technique has been limited to tumors smaller than four centimeters," said Bernd Frericks, MD, lead author of the study. "This long-term study (four years) was performed using a new multipolar radiofrequency (RF)-device allowing for up to six ablation probes to be used simultaneously, thus providing larger ablation zones. We evaluated this new technique prospectively regarding ablation zone size, technical effectiveness, complications and clinical outcome in patients with colorectal liver metastases," he said.

The study evaluated 27 patients with 67 colorectal liver metastases that were treated using multipolar RF ablation. According to the study, complete tumor destruction occurred in 66 of 67 cases. Of the 67 metastases, eight required reablation. After a mean of nine months, 16 patients developed new metastases in the liver and the lung, eight of which were successfully reablated. After four years, 52% of the patients are now tumor-free and 78% are still living.

"Using this new device, the rate of local tumor progressions was not influenced by the size of the tumor to be treated," said Dr. Frericks.

The full results of this study will be presented on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 during the American Roentgen Ray Society's annual meeting in Washington, DC.


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Materials provided by American Roentgen Ray Society. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Cite This Page:

American Roentgen Ray Society. "New Technique In Treating Patients With Liver Cancer Proves Effective, Study Suggests." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 15 April 2008. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080411150859.htm>.
American Roentgen Ray Society. (2008, April 15). New Technique In Treating Patients With Liver Cancer Proves Effective, Study Suggests. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080411150859.htm
American Roentgen Ray Society. "New Technique In Treating Patients With Liver Cancer Proves Effective, Study Suggests." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080411150859.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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