• Giampiero Francica, Antonio Saviano, Ilario De Sio, Nicoletta De Matthaeis, Franco Brunello, Alessandro Cantamessa, Antonio Giorgio, Umberto Scognamiglio, Fabio Fornari, Francesco Giangregorio, Fabio Piscaglia, Silvia Gualandi, Eugenio Caturelli, Paola Roselli, Gian Ludovico Rapaccini, and Maurizio Pompili.
• Diagnostic and Interventional Unit, S. Maria della Pietà Camilliani Hospital, Via San Rocco 9, 80026 Casoria, Italy. giampierofrancica@gmail.com
• Dig Liver Dis. 2013 Apr 1; 45 (4): 336-41.

BackgroundRadiofrequency Ablation is the most widely performed percutaneous treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. This multicentre study was aimed at assessing the complication, overall survival and disease-free survival rates in cirrhotic patients with single Hepatocellular Carcinoma nodule ≤3 cm undergoing Radiofrequency Ablation.MethodsData of 365 patients (59% males; mean age 67 ± 8 years), Child-Pugh A/B, with single Hepatocellular Carcinoma nodule ≤3 cm (tumours >2-3 cm = 127/236), showing complete necrosis after Radiofrequency Ablation between 1998 and 2010 in 7 Italian Centers were retrospectively reviewed. Complication, overall survival and disease-free survival rates were analyzed as main clinical end-points.ResultsMajor complications were observed in 8 patients (2.2%) and minor complications in 23 patients (6.3%). The 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 80% and 64%. One hundred and seven patients (29.5%) died, being 41 deaths (38.3%) Hepatocellular Carcinoma-related. At multivariate analysis only age (p = 0.04; OR 2.29), ascites (p < 0.001; OR 3.74) and Child-Pugh class ≥B8 (p = 0.003; OR 2.42) were confirmed as independent predictors for overall survival. The disease-free survival rates at 3- and 5-year were 50%, and 41.8%.ConclusionsRadiofrequency Ablation is an effective and safe tool for the treatment of single Hepatocellular Carcinoma ≤3 cm providing excellent 5-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates. Patient's age and liver status appeared as main determinants of outcome.Copyright © 2012 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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