Recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after radiofrequency ablation in a poor-risk patient with chronic renal failure and other complications successfully treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy

Clin J Gastroenterol. 2023 Apr;16(2):216-223. doi: 10.1007/s12328-022-01734-1. Epub 2022 Nov 29.

Abstract

The patient was an 85-year-old man with hepatitis C-related liver cirrhosis and chronic renal failure caused by diabetes mellitus under maintenance hemodialysis (HD) who developed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after achieving a sustained viral response with direct acting antiviral therapy 1 year and 3 months previously. HCC located near the right hepatic vein was treated by radiofrequency ablation (RFA) but recurrent disease accompanied by hepatic vein invasion was detected 3 months after RFA. The recurrent HCC was curatively treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). The patient had additional complications, including grade III AV block controlled by a pacemaker, colonic adenoma resected by endoscopic mucosal resection, and a small cerebral aneurysm, which was untreated. At 2 years after SBRT, there had been no recurrence of HCC. In this old HCC patient with various complications including HD with polypharmacy, multidisciplinary treatment, including SBRT, enabled the patient to achieve complete remission and maintain a good quality of life.

Keywords: Hemodialysis; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Poor risk; Recurrence; Stereotactic body radiation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / radiotherapy
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / surgery
  • Catheter Ablation* / adverse effects
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic* / complications
  • Humans
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic* / complications
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic* / surgery
  • Liver Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms* / radiotherapy
  • Liver Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Male
  • Quality of Life
  • Radiofrequency Ablation* / adverse effects
  • Radiosurgery* / adverse effects
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents