Laparoscopic and Thracoscopic Radiofrequency Ablation Therapy for Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) responds poorly to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and few patients can undergo surgery due to severe liver dysfunction. Therefore, there is a need for a simple and effective local treatment technique with low mobidity. We evaluated minimally invasive laparoscopic or thoracoscopic radiofrequency ablation for treatment of patients with HCC who had no prospects of resective surgery. Five patients (1 man and 4 women ; age range, 58 to 77 years) with HCC nodules of not more than 3.0-cm in diameter underwent radiofrequency ablation treatment. In each patient, the thermal necrosis volume achieved was large enough compared with the tumor volume. Though hepatic dysfunction was severe, postoperative recovery was uneventful in all patients. During the mean follow-up interval of 9.8 months (range, 4-15 months), no recurrence was found and all the patients are alive. Laparoscopic and thoracoscopic radiofrequency ablation can be considered a useful new treatment for small HCC in patients without surgical prospects. It is simple, effective and safe.