Radiofrequency Ablation of Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Purpose: To validate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of breast carcinomas.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted by the Breast Cancer Society for Minimally Invasive Therapy following approval from institutional review boards, and with the written informed consent of patients. A total of 386 patients with breast cancer treated with RFA at 10 institutions between July 2003 and June 2009 were identified and included in the analysis. Patients underwent a standard RFA procedure with ultrasound guidance and were followed up every 6 to 12 months. In this study, feasibility of RFA procedure and related safety and ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) were examined. Fisher exact or χ² test evaluated associations between clinicopathological factors and IBTR, and local recurrence-free survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results: RFA-related adverse events included local pain in 9 patients, skin burns in 15, and nipple retraction in 7. Patients were followed for a median of 50 months. IBTR was more frequently observed in patients with initial tumor sizes > 2 cm (3 of 30, 10%) than in those with initial tumors ≤ 2 cm (8 of 355, 2.3%; P = .015). IBTR-free rates 5 years after RFA were 97%, 94%, and 87% in patients with initial tumor sizes ≤ 1.0 cm, 1.1 to 2.0 cm, and > 2.0 cm, respectively.

Conclusions: RFA in breast cancer is a safe and promising minimally invasive treatment for tumors ≤ 2 cm in diameter. Further studies are needed to optimize the technique and evaluate its future role as local therapy.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence; Local therapy; Minimally invasive surgical procedures; Radiofrequency ablation.