Abstract
Comparison of Clinical Outcomes of Microwave Ablation Therapy with Radiofrequency Ablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Metastatic Liver Tumors
Kathryn Louise A. Babaran, MD; Diana Alcantara-Payawal, MD, FPCP, FPSG, FPSDE; Marco Tongo, MD, FPCP, DPSG
Cardinal Santos Medical Center
Background: Liver cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the Philippines. Local guidelines recommend liver resection for early-stage Hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic liver tumors; however, due to increased adverse events, ablative techniques such as Radiofrequency Ablation Therapy (RFA) and Microwave ablation therapy (MWA) have become increasingly utilized. These well-accepted techniques are only available in highly specialized centers in the country. Hence, local studies regarding their effectiveness are sparse.
Methodology: A retrospective cohort was done wherein medical records of patients at Cardinal Santos Medical center from 2018 to 2021 were reviewed. Patients with a solitary liver tumor, or 3 or less tumors <3 cm each, and preserved liver function were included. Patients with extensive disease, poor performance status, and Child Pugh C were excluded. Complete ablation rates and 1 month to 1 year post-ablation outcomes were compared.
Results: 23 patients underwent ablation therapy; 11 patients were in the RFA group, and 12 in the MWA group. Improvement in AFP levels were statistically significant in the 1-year follow-up for patients who underwent RFA (p=0.026) and MWA (p=0.05). In addition, there was a statistically significant difference in the bilirubin of patients in the MWA group (p=0.08), as well as INR (p= 0.03). The statistically significant improvement in the INR and bilirubin, decline in AFP in the MWA group, and the decline of alpha-fetoprotein in the RFA group at one-year follow-up indicate benefit among patients with liver tumors. Studies with a larger population are highly recommended for further investigation on the treatment effect of this modality.
Important Dates to Remember
| JRRE Activities 2023-2024 |
Proposed Dates |
|---|---|
| Resumption of face-to-face Evidence-Based Medicine Workshop Venue to be announced once finalized. |
July 21, 2023 (Friday), 1-5pm |
| Monthly Critical Appraisal of Topics Conferences to be gaciliated by Research Coordinators per Institution | Monthly Critical Appraisal of Topics Conferences per Institution |
| CAT Plenary/Liver Con Dates: September 23, 2023 December 16, 2023 March 2024 (During the JAC) Resumption of face-to-face Quarterly Critical Appraisal of Topics facilitated by the JRRE |
2 Clinical scenarios and articles are to be sent to institutions each on August 2023, November 2023, and February 2024; |
| Hybrid Research Workshop 4 week asynchronous via Moodle, followed by a 1 day on-site Onsite Workshop Research Protocol Presentation for Level I GI Fellows-In-Training - Research Protocol Presentation: August 12, 2023 - Research Forums of the Tripartite Societies |
Week 1: July 15-21, 2023 Week 2: July 22-28, 2023 Week 3: July 29-August 4, 2023 Week 4: August 5-11, 2023 |
| Research Manuscript Workshop for level II GI Fellows-In-Training | January 6, 2024 |