Frequency and risk factors for major complications after stereotactic radiofrequency ablation of liver tumors in 1235 ablation sessions: a 15-year experience

ConclusionSRFA of liver tumors is safe and can extend the treatment spectrum of conventional RFA. Adaptations over time combined with increasing experience resulted in a significant decrease in complications.Key Points•In 1235 ablation sessions in 793 patients over 15 years, we found a mortality rate of 0.5% (6/1235) and an overall major complication rate of 7.4%, which fell from 11.5 (36/314) to 6.0% (55/921, p = 0.001) after January 2011, likely due to procedural adaptations.•History of bile duct surgery/intervention (p = 0.013, OR = 3.290), number of coaxial needles (p = 0.026, OR = 1.052), and location of tumors in segment IVa (p = 0.016, OR = 1.989) or VIII (p = 0.038, OR = 1.635) were found to be independent prognostic factors.•Simple logistic regression revealed that number of tumors, tumor size, location close to the diaphragm, tumor conglomerates, and segment VII were other significant predictors of major complications.
Source: European Radiology - Category: Radiology Source Type: research