OBJECTIVE: To assess the indications, efficacy and clinical significance of percutaneous cryoablation for liver carcinoma after transcatheter liver artery chemoembolization (TACE).
METHODS: Thirty-four patients with histologically or clinically confirmed primary or metastatic carcinomas were treated with TACE. One week to 1 month later, they were treated percutaneously under ultrasound guidance using cryosurgical system in the period of July 2001-June 2002. All patients were followed up to determine serum tumor marker, CT scans, MRI images or ultrasound images.
RESULTS: This therapy was performed in 34 patients including 32 patients with Child A liver reserve, 2 patients with Child B and no patient with Child C. There were 28 patients with primary liver cancer and 6 patients with metastatic liver cancer. During the follow-up period (3 to 15 months), 41.1% patients were recognized clinically cured because the serum tumor markers became normal, or CT scans and MRI images revealed that the lesion became completely necrotic. 44.1% patients were recognized effectively treated.
CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous cryoablation combined with TACE is a choice of treatment for liver carcinoma. It is minimally invasive, safe and effective for those patients with liver cancer unsuitable for surgery.