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. 2008 Jul 28;14(28):4540-5.
doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.4540.

Radiofrequency ablation as a treatment for hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Wei-Jun Fan  1 , Pei-Hong Wu, Liang Zhang, Jin-Hua Huang, Fu-Jun Zhang, Yang-Kui Gu, Ming Zhao, Xiang-Long Huang, Chang-Yu Guo
Affiliations

Radiofrequency ablation as a treatment for hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Wei-Jun Fan et al. World J Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Aim: To explore the role of radio-frequency ablation (RFA) as a treatment for hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Methods: Eleven patients with obstructive cholestasis underwent Computed Tomography (CT) examination, occupying lesions were observed in the hepatic hilar region in each patient. All lesions were confirmed as cholangioadenocarcinoma by biopsy and were classified as type III or IV by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. Patients were treated with multiple electrodes RFA combined with other adjuvant therapy. The survival rate, change of CT attenuation coefficient of the tumor and tumor size were studied in these patients after RFA.

Results: In a follow-up CT scan one month after RFA, a size reduction of about 30% was observed in six masses, and two masses were reduced by about 20% in size, three of the eleven masses remained unchanged. In a follow-up CT scan 6 mo after RFA, all the masses were reduced in size (overall 35%), in which the most significant size reduction was 60%. The survival follow-up among these eleven cases was 18 mo in average. Ongoing follow-up showed that the longest survival case was 30 mo and the shortest case was 10 mo.

Conclusion: RFA is a microinvasive and effective treatment for hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A: The white arrow indicates the injection hole; B: The white arrow indicates the side hole, and the black arrow indicates hooked array radiofrequency needles
Figure 2
Figure 2
A case with type IIIb Klatskin tumor. A: Plain CT scan reveals that the tumor is in the main trunk of left hepatic duct with dilatation of branches; B: The patient underwent RFA under CT guidance after internal and external drainage for two weeks.
Figure 3
Figure 3
A case with type IV Klatskin tumor. A: The plain CT reveals that the tumor is in the portal hepatic region with dilatation of the left and right hepatic ducts; B: The patient underwent RFA under CT guidance after internal and external drainage for 2 wk; C: The plain CT scan reveals a liquidized and necrotic region of the tumor in the portal hepatic region without contrast enhancement 2 mo after RFA.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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