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Articles

Magnetic resonance-guided thermal ablation for small liver malignant tumor located on segment II or IVa abutting the heart: a retrospective cohort study

, , , , , & show all
Pages 1359-1365 | Received 09 May 2021, Accepted 31 Aug 2021, Published online: 10 Sep 2021
 

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy magnetic resonance (MR)-guided percutaneous thermal ablation for the treatment of small liver malignant tumors of segment II and IVa (≤3.0 cm) abutting the heart.

Method

The enrollment of 24 patients with 25 malignant liver lesions located on the II or IVa segment abutting the heart who underwent MRI-guided thermal ablation between August 2010 and February 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Follow-up MRI was performed to evaluate the curative effect. Local tumor progression-free survival and overall survival rates were also calculated.

Results

The procedures including radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for 15 patients and microwave ablation (MWA) for 9 patients were successfully accomplished (technical success rate of 100%) without major complications. The mean duration time was 78.4 ± 29.4 min (40–140 min), and mean follow-up time was 31.5 ± 22.2 months (6–92 months). The technical efficacy was 100% following one ablation session with MRI assessment after one month. Local tumor progression was observed in one patient with a metastatic lesion located in segment II at 18 months follow-up. The progression-free survival time was 20.1 ± 16.9 months (median: 15 months). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year local tumor progression-free survival rates of this patient were 100%, 94.7%, and 94.7%, respectively. With regards to all the patients, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year estimated overall survival rates were 91.7%, 80.6%, and 50.1%, respectively.

Conclusion

MR-guided thermal ablation is safe and effective for the treatment of small liver malignant tumors located on the II or IVa segment abutting the heart.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by The Research and Develop Program of Focus Field of Guangdong Province, PRC [2019B110233001].