Radiofrequency ablation for pediatric recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma: a single-center experience

PurposeTo summarize our single-center experience with percutaneous ultrasound (US)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for pediatric recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (RHCC).MethodsFrom September 2007 to September 2021, patients under 18 who underwent percutaneous US-guided RFA for RHCC were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Local effectiveness, complications, local tumor progression (LTP), progression free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were evaluated.ResultsA total of 10 patients (9 male and 1 female; mean age, 11.7 +/- 4 years ; age range, 6-17 years) with 15 intrahepatic RHCC lesions were enrolled in this study. Complete ablation (CA) was achieved in 14 out of 15 lesions (93.3%) after the first RFA. During the follow-up (mean, 63.1 +/- 18 months; range, 5.3-123.3 months), LTP did not occur. Five patients died including three with tumor progression and one with liver failure. The accumulative one- and three-year PFS rates were 30% and 10%, respectively. The accumulative one- and three-year OS rates were 77.8% and 44.4%, respectively.ConclusionsOur single-center experience suggests the safety and feasibility of percutaneous US-guided RFA for pediatric RHCC.