The study of clinic application of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and cooled-tip ablation in treating primary hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective To comment the safety and effect of combining cooled-tip electrodes and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)for the treatment of patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods Sixty patients(totally with 128 tumors)with primary hepatocellular carcinoma underwent the treatment of combination of radiofrequency ablation with cooled-tip electrodes and TACE.Results During or after operations:sinus bradycardia,hyperkalemia and acute pancreatitis.CT scan obtained after RF ablation showed that complete necrosis was achieved in 108 tumors(84.3%),nearly complete necrosis in 16 tumors(12.76%)and partial necrosis in 4 tumors(3.1%)in 128 tumors nodules.All patients were followed up ranging from 6 months to 18 months.Conclusions The therapy combining RF ablation with cooled-tip electrodes and TACE for patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma is effective and safe.