Background and objectives: Although radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a well-established locoregional treatment modality for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the optimal strategy to handle local recurrence after ablation is still debated. This study aims to investigate the role of salvage hepatectomy (SH) as a rescue therapy for recurrent HCC after RFA.
Materials and methods: Between January 2004 and December 2020, 1161 patients were subject to surgical resection for HCC. Among them, 47 patients who underwent SH for local recurrence after ablation were retrospectively analyzed and compared to a propensity score-matched group of controls (n = 47) who received primary hepatectomy (PH). Short-term and long-term outcomes were analyzed between the two groups.
Results: After matching, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, and postoperative morbidity rates showed no statistically significant difference. Tumors in the SH group were associated with poor differentiation (SH 9 (19.1%) vs. PH 1 (2.1%), p < 0.001). The 5-year disease-free survival rates (31.6% vs. 73.4%, p < 0.001) and overall survival rates (80.3% vs. 94.2%, p = 0.047) were significantly lower in the SH group. In multivariable analysis, less extensive resection compared to the initial plan (hazard ratio (HR) 4.68, p = 0.024), higher grade (HR 5.38, P < 0.001), negative but close (<0.1 cm) resection margin (HR 22.14, p = 0.007), and R1 resection (HR 3.13, p = 0.006) were significant predictors for recurrence.
Conclusions: SH for recurrent tumors after ablation showed safety and effectiveness equivalent to primary resection. As recurrent tumors show a higher grade and more aggressive behavior, more extensive resections with wide surgical margins are necessary to prevent recurrence.
Keywords: HCC; RFA; hepatocellular carcinoma; liver resection; radiofrequency ablation; salvage hepatectomy.