Percutaneous radio-frequency ablation of liver metastases from breast cancer: Initial experience in 24 patients

PURPOSE: To evaluate the authors' initial experience in a consecutive serie s of 24 patients with breast cancer liver metastases treated with radio-fre quency (RF) ablation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four consecutive patients with 64 metastases measuring 1.0-6.6 cm in diameter (mean, 1.9 cm) underwent ultrasonography-g uided percutaneous RF ablation with 18-gauge, internally cooled electrodes. Treatment was performed with the patient under conscious sedation and anal gesia or general anesthesia. A single lesion was treated in 16 patients, an d multiple lesions were treated in eight patients. Follow-up with serial co mputed tomography ranged from 4 to 44 months (mean, 10 months; median, 19 m onths). RESULTS: Complete necrosis was achieved in 59 (92%) of 64 lesions. Among th e 59 lesions, complete necrosis required a single treatment session in 58 l esions (92%) and two treatment sessions in one lesion (2%). In 14 (58%) of 24 patients, new metastases developed during follow-up. Ten (71%) of these 14 patients developed new liver metastases. Currently, 10 (63%) of 16 patie nts whose lesions were initially confined to the liver are free of disease. One patient died of progressive brain metastases. No major complications o ccurred. Two minor complications were observed. CONCLUSION: On the basis of preliminary study results, percutaneous RF abla tion appears to be a simple, safe, and effective treatment for focal liver metastases in selected patients with breast cancer.