Background and aim: Despite radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for malignant liver nodular lesions having promising therapeutic effects, the trade-off between the risks and benefits must be acceptable. This study analyzed the major complications of ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous RFA procedures encountered at a single center, by a single physician.
Methods: A total of 104 patients (total 183 tumors) underwent 172 US-guided percutaneous RFA sessions between May 2003 and March 2006. The definition of major complications was according to the standardized Society of Interventional Radiology grading system (classification C-E).
Results: Eighty-six patients had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 18 patients had hepatic metastatic tumors. Nine major complications occurred from 172 RFA sessions (9/172, incidence of 5.2% per session); namely, two cases of transient liver function impairment, two cases of infection (liver abscess and septicemia), two cases of tumor seeding along the ablated track, one case of colon perforation, one case of acalculous cholecystitis and, lastly, a case of hemocholecyst. We further analyzed the possible risk factors precipitating these complications, and found that only tumor size (Pearson's correlation coefficient, 0.324; P < 0.05) and baseline liver function reserve (compensated 0%, 0/148 vs decompensated 8.3%, 2/24; P = 0.019) were significant factors for the complication of transient liver function impairment.
Conclusion: Radiofrequency ablation for liver malignancy is a safe procedure with acceptable incidence of complications. Decompensated baseline liver function reserve and large tumor size are precipitating factors for transient liver function impairment after RFA and warrant a close follow up.