Therapeutic Value of Radiofrequency Ablation for Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Arterioportal Shunts

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with arterioportal shunts (APS). Methods Thirty-four cases of hepatocellular carcinoma with APS patients,treatment for APS and tumor radiofrequency ablation enhanced CT or MRI scan 2 weeks ofter the liver parallel TACE treatment.Tumor ablation,necrosis effect APS shunt closed situation. All the 34 HCC patients with APS were treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA).The ablation lesions and APS occlusion were detect by enhanced CT or MRI two weeks later and then TACE was carried out. Results The 15 central-type APS were occluded completely in 4 cases occluded partially in 8 cases and not occluded in 3 cases.The 10 hepaticsegment-type APS were occluded completely in 3 cases,occluded partially in 5 cases and not occluded in 2 cases.In the 9 peripheral-type APS patients,complete occlusion occurred in 5 patients and partial occlusion in 4 patients.Thirty-eight lesion sites were treated by RFA.Completely necrosis occurred in 11 tumors,the necrosis more than 50% area occurred in 14 tumorss and less than 50% in 8 tumors.No change and progressive deterioration occurred respectively in 4 tumors and 1 tumor.With a follow-up of 3～12 months,and survival rate of 6months,9months,12months and 18months was 100%,94.1％,82.4％ and 73.5％,respectively. Conclusion Radiofrequency ablation combined with Transcatheter arterial chemoemblization was an effective and safe therapy.