Radiofrequency Ablation of Hepatocellular Carcinomas Adjacent to the Gallbladder Without Isolation Under Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Monitoring: A Comparative Study with Long Term Follow-Up.

Objective: This study intends to compare the efficacy and safety between patients undergoing invasive isolation or monitoring measures and patients undergoing intra-operative contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) monitoring who underwent radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) adjacent to the gallbladder (GB). Methods: We retrospectively assessed patients with HCC adjacent to the GB who underwent ultrasound-guided RFA. They were divided into two groups: group A was monitored under intra-operative CEUS, while group B was assisted by invasive auxiliary means. The efficacy, complications and survival were followed up and compared. Results: Thirty-eight patients with 39 HCCs were enrolled into group A and 31 patients with 35 HCCs were enrolled into group B. The technique efficacy rates were both 100% in the two groups. There were no significant differences of the cumulative 1-, 3-, and 5-year local tumor progression, tumor-free survival and overall survival between the two groups ( Conclusion: Intra-operative CEUS monitoring without protective isolation of the GB might be also a potentially safe and effective method for the RFA of HCC adjacent to the GB, when compared with those assisted with invasive auxiliary means.