Radiofrequency ablation <i>vs</i> surgical resection in elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in Milan criteria
Maria Conticchio, Riccardo Inchingolo, Antonella Delvecchio, Letizia Laera, Francesca Ratti, Maximiliano Gelli, Ferdinando Massimiliano Anelli, Alexis Laurent, Giulio Cesare Vitali, Paolo Magistri, Giacomo Assirati, Emanuele Felli, Taiga Wakabayashi, Patrick Pessaux, Tullio Piardi, Fabrizio Di Benedetto, Nicola de’Angelis, Javier Briceño, Antonio Rampoldi, René Adam, Daniel Cherqui, Luca Aldrighetti, Riccardo Memeo
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Surgical resection and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) represent two possible strategy in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Milan criteria. AIM: To evaluate short- and long-term outcome in elderly patients (> 70 years) with HCC in Milan criteria, which underwent liver resection (LR) or RFA. METHODS: The study included 594 patients with HCC in Milan criteria (429 in LR group and 165 in RFA group) managed in 10 European centers. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method before and after propensity score matching (PSM) and Cox regression. RESULTS: = 0.001).In multivariate analysis, Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score (> 10) [odds ratio (OR) = 1.89], increased value of international normalized ratio (> 1.3) (OR = 1.60), treatment with radiofrequency (OR = 1.46) ,and multiple nodules (OR = 1.19) were independent predictors of a poor overall survival while a high MELD score (> 10) (OR = 1.51) and radiofrequency (OR = 1.37) were independent factors associated with a higher recurrence rate. CONCLUSION: Despite a longer length of stay and a higher rate of severe postoperative complications, surgery provided better results in long-term oncological outcomes as compared to ablation in elderly patients (> 70 years) with HCC in Milan criteria.