Residual lesions after radiofrequency ablation in elderly patients with liver cancer: An analysis of influencing factors

Objective To analyze the influencing factors for residual lesions after radiofrequency ablation in elderly patients with liver cancer. Methods Clinical data of 65 elderly patients with liver cancer treated by radiofrequency ablation in our hospital from January 2014 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.The influencing factors on residual lesions after radiofrequency ablation were analyzed by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression. Results Of 102 lesions in 65 elderly patients with liver cancer, 87 lesions were completely ablated at the first time, and the first complete ablation rate of lesion was 85.29%(87/102). All visible lesions were completely ablated in 56 patients at the first time, and the first complete ablation rate of cases was 86.15%(56/65). Fifteen lesions in 9 patients were incompletely ablated.Univariate analysis showed that gender(χ2=0.740, P=0.390), cirrhosis(χ2=0.745, P=0.388), hepatitis B(χ2=0.057, P=0.812)and type of liver cancer(χ2=0.171, P=0.682)had no significant effect on the residual lesions after radiofrequency ablation, but the number of lesions(χ2=6.694, P=0.010), the lesion size(χ2=14.382, P=0.000)and liver function classification(χ2=5.359, P=0.030)had statistically significant effects on residual lesions after radiofrequency ablation.Further multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the number of lesions ≥ 3(OR=1.916, 95%CI: 1.326~2.571, P=0.029), the size of lesions≥3 cm(OR=2.362, 95%CI: 2.180~2.923, P=0.000)were risk factors for residual lesions after radiofrequency ablation. Conclusions Radiofrequency ablation has a better therapeutic effect on liver cancer in elderly patients.The number and size of lesions have a certain impact on the residual lesions after radiofrequency ablation. Key words: Liver neoplasms; Catheter ablation; Treatment outcome