Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33895858›Full record

ArticleEuropean radiology2021

Switching monopolar radiofrequency ablation improves long-term outcomes of medium-sized hepatocellular carcinoma.

Chen-Chun Lin, Kar-Wai Lui, Wei-Ting Chen, Yi-Chung Hsieh, Ya-Ting Cheng, Wei Teng, Shi-Ming Lin

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in European radiology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
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

7 authors.

Chen-Chun LinDivision of Hepatology, Liver Research Unit, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, 5, Fu-Hsin St., Kwei-Shan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, 333.
Kar-Wai LuiDepartment of Medical Imaging & Intervention, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Wei-Ting ChenDivision of Hepatology, Liver Research Unit, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, 5, Fu-Hsin St., Kwei-Shan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, 333.
Yi-Chung HsiehDivision of Hepatology, Liver Research Unit, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, 5, Fu-Hsin St., Kwei-Shan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, 333.
Ya-Ting ChengDivision of Hepatology, Liver Research Unit, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, 5, Fu-Hsin St., Kwei-Shan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, 333.
Wei TengDivision of Hepatology, Liver Research Unit, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, 5, Fu-Hsin St., Kwei-Shan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, 333.
Shi-Ming LinDivision of Hepatology, Liver Research Unit, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, 5, Fu-Hsin St., Kwei-Shan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, 333. lsmpaicyto@cloud.cgmh.org.tw.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7527-6181

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesRadiofrequency ablation (RFA) of medium-sized (3-5 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is suboptimal. Switching monopolar RFA (SW-RFA) enlarges the ablative volume to better cover larger tumors. This study aims to compare the long-term outcomes of medium-sized HCC treated by either SW-RFA or single-monopolar RFA (S-RFA).

methodsWe retrospectively reviewed 139 cases (147 medium-size HCC) between 2008 and 2014. Under propensity score matching, a total of 43 paired patients with medium-size HCC and balanced clinical variables treated by either SW-RFA or S-RFA were selected for comparison.

resultsSW-RFA showed a higher rate of achieving an adequate safety margin (p = 0.002). After a mean follow-up period of 40.4 months, SW-RFA produced significantly lower global RFA failure rates (p < 0.001) and better overall survival (p = 0.005) compared to S-RFA. SW-RFA was independently associated with a decreased risk of global RFA failure (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.136, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.030-0.607, p = 0.009) and improved overall survival (HR: 0.337, 95% CI: 0.152-0.747, p = 0.007). By last follow-up, the SW-RFA group maintained a superior tumor-free rate (p = 0.010) and fewer progressions to Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C (p = 0.011). Major complication rates were comparable in both groups (SW-RFA: 2.3% vs. S-RFA: 4.7%, p = 1.000).

conclusionsThe switching multi-monopolar ablation technique could be beneficial for patients with medium-sized HCCs given sustained control of larger tumors with better overall survival. KEY POINTS: • Switching monopolar ablation could provide a sustained local tumor control and better overall survival than single-monopolar ablation for the medium-sized hepatocellular carcinoma. • Compared to single-monopolar ablation, switching monopolar ablation could create a larger homogeneous coagulation volume by using a shorter total ablation time to achieve a higher rate of adequate safety margin for a medium-sized HCC. • Patients with medium-sized HCC can be maintained at a higher rate of tumor-free status and at a lower risk of progression into BCLC stage C in the follow-up period after ablation by switching monopolar than by single-monopolar ablation.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, HepatocellularCatheter AblationLiver NeoplasmsRadiofrequency AblationHumansRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeAblation techniquesHumansLiver neoplasmsPropensity scoreRetrospective studies

Identifiers

PMID33895858

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

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.