— Christine M. Kukka, Project Manager, HBV Advocate
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), which uses carefully-targeted
radiofrequency waves to increase the temperature inside cancerous
tumors in order to destroy them, appears to be as effective as surgery
in treating hepatitis B patients with small liver tumors, according to a
10-year study.
Chinese researchers, reporting in the March issue of the journal Medical Oncology,
followed 837 hepatitis B patients who had small liver cancer nodules,
measuring 3 cm or smaller, removed using RFA. This medical procedure is
less invasive than surgery and can be performed in outpatient
settings.
The researchers reported the 1-, 3-, 5- and
10-year survival rates of their patients were 91%, 71%, 54%, and 33%
respectively.
The 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year liver cancer-free survival rates were 74%, 44%, 30% and 15 % respectively.
Lower alpha fetoprotein levels and fewer nodules increased the patients' survival rates.
“RFA achieved comparable long-term overall
survival rates to those of surgical resection (removal) with fewer
major complications and could therefore be considered as an alternative
option for curative treatment of patients with small liver cancer,”
the researchers reported.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
/25698535
http://www.hbvadvocate.org/news/HBJ12.3.htmLabels: cancer treatment, Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), small tumors
