Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30272482›Full record

ArticleThe British journal of radiology2019

Long-term follow-up of unresectable medium-large hepatocellular carcinoma nodules treated with radiofrequency ablation using a multiple-electrode switching system.

Giampiero Francica, Michele Altiero, Ettore Laccetti, Filomena Pezzullo, Michela Tanga, Giuseppe Avitabile, Mathew Elameer, Mariano Scaglione

Abstract readEvaluation Study
In one paragraph

Article in The British journal of radiology, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Giampiero FrancicaInterventional Ultrasound Unit, Pineta Grande Hospital, Castel Volturno, Italy.
Michele AltieroDepartment of Radiology, Pineta Grande Hospital, Castel Volturno, Italy.
Ettore LaccettiDepartment of Radiology, Pineta Grande Hospital, Castel Volturno, Italy.
Filomena PezzulloDepartment of Radiology, Pineta Grande Hospital, Castel Volturno, Italy.
Michela TangaDepartment of Radiology, Pineta Grande Hospital, Castel Volturno, Italy.
Giuseppe AvitabileDepartment of Radiology, Pineta Grande Hospital, Castel Volturno, Italy.
Mathew ElameerDepartment of Radiology, City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, Sunderland, UK.
Mariano ScaglioneDepartment of Radiology, Pineta Grande Hospital, Castel Volturno, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the safety and effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) by using a multiple-electrode switching system to treat unresectable medium-large (3.1-6.0 cm) HCC nodules.

methodsRFA using a multiple-electrode switching system was performed for HCC nodules with size > 3.0 < 6.0 cm in nonsurgical candidates. Two electrodes were consecutively placed for 3.1-4.0 cm tumours, and three electrodes for 4.1-5.9 cm tumours, with a 2.0-2.5 cm spacing. The power was switched from one electrode to the next automatically when the impedance reached 30 Ω above the baseline level. 25 patients (M/F = 9/16; median age 76 years, range 61-84) with liver cirrhosis (20 HCV-positive) in Child's Class A (22 cases) and B (3 cases) and 26 HCC nodules (median diameter 4.0 cm; range 3.2-5.5 cm) underwent treatment in 25 sessions from 2013 and 2018. Therapeutic effectiveness was assessed through CT or MRI exam at 30-40 days post-ablation.

resultsNo procedure-related death or major complications occurred. Complete ablation was obtained in all nodules (100%). At a median follow up of 30 months, local tumor progression occurred in five out of 26 nodules (19.2%). Overall survival at 4 years was 49%.

conclusionRFA with a multiple-electrode switching system may be a safe, quick and effective therapeutic option for treatment of 3.1-6.0 cm unresectable HCC tumours. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: RFA with multiple electrodes provides favourable clinical results in patients with medium-large HCC nodules who are not suitable for surgery.

Indexed as

AgedAged, 80 and overCarcinoma, HepatocellularCatheter AblationCohort StudiesDisease-Free SurvivalDisease ProgressionFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansKaplan-Meier EstimateLiver NeoplasmsMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedMinimally Invasive Surgical Procedures

Identifiers

PMID30272482
PMCPMC6435052

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.