Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma: effect of histologic grade on therapeutic results. Kim SH, Lim HK, Choi D, Lee WJ, Kim SH, Kim MJ, Kim CK, Jeon YH, Lee JM, Rhim H. Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Ilwon-dong, Kangnam-ku, Seoul 135-710, South Korea. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to assess the therapeutic results of radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on the histologic grades of the tumors. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Between April 1999 and December 2003, 95 patients with nodular HCC were treated with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation. All tumors were histologically proven by sonography-guided percutaneous biopsy and were classified as Edmondson-Steiner grade I HCC (n = 38) (mean, 2.3 cm) (group 1), grade II HCC (n = 50) (mean, 2.4 cm) (group 2), or grade III HCC (n = 7) (mean, 2.8 cm) (group 3). All patients underwent contrast-enhanced three-phase helical CT examination before and after radiofrequency ablation. After retrospective review of the medical records and follow-up CT examinations, the rates of technique effectiveness, local tumor progression, cumulative survival, and cancer-free survival using a Kaplan-Meier method were calculated and compared among the groups. RESULTS: Technique effectiveness rates in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 87% (27/31), 71% (30/42), and 43% (3/7), respectively, with statistical significance (p = 0.032). Local tumor progression rates in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 16% (5/31), 36% (15/42), and 71% (5/7), respectively, with statistical significance (p = 0.013). Five-year cumulative survival rates in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 71%, 44%, and 43%, respectively, with no statistical significance (p > 0.05). Four-year cancer-free survival rates in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 39%, 10%, and 0%, respectively (p < 0.05 for groups 1 vs 2; p > 0.05 for groups 1 vs 3 and groups 2 vs 3). CONCLUSION: The histologic grade of HCC is an important factor influencing therapeutic results with survival after radiofrequency ablation. PMID: 16632696 [PubMed - in process] Am J Roentgenol. 2006 May;186(5 Suppl):S327-33. Ann's NOTE: This method obviously works on a primary tumor but does not seem to greatly effect any metastatic potential of the tumor. We think systemic treatment (your choice) is needed as well. See our section on Treatments for the alternative possibilities. Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encyclopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.