Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of intraoperative radiofrequency ablation and 125I therapy for preventing local recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatectomy.
Methods: Seventy-eight HCC patients with a tumor close to the first or the second hepatic portal underwent hepatectomy with a resection margin less than 1 cm from 1999 to 2001. All patients were randomly divided into control group and combined treatment group according to their check-in date (odd or even). In the control group, 38 patients were treated with hepatectomy alone, whereas in the combined group, 40 patients were treated with hepatectomy plus radiofrequency ablation and 125I implantation on surgical margin. All patients were followed up regularly.
Results: the 1-, 3- and 5-year recurrent rate was 7.5%, 30.0% and 45.0% in the combined treatment group versus 18.4%, 60.5% and 86.8% in the control group, respectively, with a significant difference in the 3-year (chi2 = 7.340, P < 0.01) and 5-year recurrent rates (chi2 = 15.740, P < 0.01). The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rate was 92.5%, 67.5% and 30.0% in the combined group versus 81.5%, 39.4% and 18.4%, respectively.
Conclusion: Intraoperative radiofrequency ablation and 125I therapy on the resection margin is effective to prevent local recurrence in HCC patients after hepatectomy, and to prolong their postoperative tumor free survival.