Reliability of Stereotactic Radiofrequency Ablation (SRFA) for Malignant Liver Tumors: Novice versus Experienced Operators
Purpose: To compare the results of a novice with those of experienced interventional radiologists (IRs) for stereotactic radiofrequency ablation (SRFA) of malignant liver tumors in terms of safety, technical success, and local tumor control. Methods: A database, including all SRFA procedures perform...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-01-01
|
| Series: | Biology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/2/175 |
| _version_ | 1797622298225672192 |
|---|---|
| author | Peter Schullian Gregor Laimer Edward Johnston Daniel Putzer Gernot Eberle Gerlig Widmann Yannick Scharll Reto Bale |
| author_facet | Peter Schullian Gregor Laimer Edward Johnston Daniel Putzer Gernot Eberle Gerlig Widmann Yannick Scharll Reto Bale |
| author_sort | Peter Schullian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: To compare the results of a novice with those of experienced interventional radiologists (IRs) for stereotactic radiofrequency ablation (SRFA) of malignant liver tumors in terms of safety, technical success, and local tumor control. Methods: A database, including all SRFA procedures performed in a single center between January 2011 and December 2018 was retrospectively analyzed. A total of 39 ablation sessions performed by a novice IR were compared to the results of three more experienced IRs. Comparative SRFA sessions were selected using propensity score matching considering tumor type, age, sex, tumor size, and tumor number as matching variables. Overall, 549 target tumors were treated in 273 sessions. Median tumor size was 2.2 cm (1.0–8.5 cm) for 178 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and 3.0 cm (0.5–13.0 cm) for 371 metastases. A median of 2 (1–11) tumors were treated per session. Results: No significant differences were observed when comparing the results of more experienced IRs with those of a novice IR regarding the rates of major complications (6.8% [16/234] vs. 5.1% [2/39]; <i>p</i> = 0.477), mortality (1.3% [2/234] vs. 0% [0/39]; <i>p</i> = 0.690), primary technical efficacy (98.5% [525/533] vs. 98.9% [94/95]; <i>p</i> = 0.735), and local recurrence (5.6% [30/533] vs. 5.3% [5/95]; <i>p</i> = 0.886). However, the median planning/placement time was significantly shorter for the experienced IRs (92 min vs. 119 min; <i>p</i> = 0.002). Conclusions: SRFA is a safe, effective, and reliable treatment option for malignant liver tumors and favorable outcomes can be achieved even by inexperienced operators with minimal supervision. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:08:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a65e6d42de264fdca7951f722f13716c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:08:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-a65e6d42de264fdca7951f722f13716c2023-11-16T19:12:38ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372023-01-0112217510.3390/biology12020175Reliability of Stereotactic Radiofrequency Ablation (SRFA) for Malignant Liver Tumors: Novice versus Experienced OperatorsPeter Schullian0Gregor Laimer1Edward Johnston2Daniel Putzer3Gernot Eberle4Gerlig Widmann5Yannick Scharll6Reto Bale7Department of Radiology, Section of Interventional Oncology—Microinvasive Therapy (SIP), Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaDepartment of Radiology, Section of Interventional Oncology—Microinvasive Therapy (SIP), Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaThe Royal Marsden Hospital, 203 Fulham Road, Chelsea, London SW3 6JJ, UKDepartment of Radiology, Section of Interventional Oncology—Microinvasive Therapy (SIP), Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaDepartment of Radiology, Section of Interventional Oncology—Microinvasive Therapy (SIP), Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaDepartment of Radiology, Section of Interventional Oncology—Microinvasive Therapy (SIP), Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaDepartment of Radiology, Section of Interventional Oncology—Microinvasive Therapy (SIP), Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaDepartment of Radiology, Section of Interventional Oncology—Microinvasive Therapy (SIP), Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaPurpose: To compare the results of a novice with those of experienced interventional radiologists (IRs) for stereotactic radiofrequency ablation (SRFA) of malignant liver tumors in terms of safety, technical success, and local tumor control. Methods: A database, including all SRFA procedures performed in a single center between January 2011 and December 2018 was retrospectively analyzed. A total of 39 ablation sessions performed by a novice IR were compared to the results of three more experienced IRs. Comparative SRFA sessions were selected using propensity score matching considering tumor type, age, sex, tumor size, and tumor number as matching variables. Overall, 549 target tumors were treated in 273 sessions. Median tumor size was 2.2 cm (1.0–8.5 cm) for 178 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and 3.0 cm (0.5–13.0 cm) for 371 metastases. A median of 2 (1–11) tumors were treated per session. Results: No significant differences were observed when comparing the results of more experienced IRs with those of a novice IR regarding the rates of major complications (6.8% [16/234] vs. 5.1% [2/39]; <i>p</i> = 0.477), mortality (1.3% [2/234] vs. 0% [0/39]; <i>p</i> = 0.690), primary technical efficacy (98.5% [525/533] vs. 98.9% [94/95]; <i>p</i> = 0.735), and local recurrence (5.6% [30/533] vs. 5.3% [5/95]; <i>p</i> = 0.886). However, the median planning/placement time was significantly shorter for the experienced IRs (92 min vs. 119 min; <i>p</i> = 0.002). Conclusions: SRFA is a safe, effective, and reliable treatment option for malignant liver tumors and favorable outcomes can be achieved even by inexperienced operators with minimal supervision.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/2/175radiofrequency ablationstereotaxyreliabilitylivertumor |
| spellingShingle | Peter Schullian Gregor Laimer Edward Johnston Daniel Putzer Gernot Eberle Gerlig Widmann Yannick Scharll Reto Bale Reliability of Stereotactic Radiofrequency Ablation (SRFA) for Malignant Liver Tumors: Novice versus Experienced Operators Biology radiofrequency ablation stereotaxy reliability liver tumor |
| title | Reliability of Stereotactic Radiofrequency Ablation (SRFA) for Malignant Liver Tumors: Novice versus Experienced Operators |
| title_full | Reliability of Stereotactic Radiofrequency Ablation (SRFA) for Malignant Liver Tumors: Novice versus Experienced Operators |
| title_fullStr | Reliability of Stereotactic Radiofrequency Ablation (SRFA) for Malignant Liver Tumors: Novice versus Experienced Operators |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reliability of Stereotactic Radiofrequency Ablation (SRFA) for Malignant Liver Tumors: Novice versus Experienced Operators |
| title_short | Reliability of Stereotactic Radiofrequency Ablation (SRFA) for Malignant Liver Tumors: Novice versus Experienced Operators |
| title_sort | reliability of stereotactic radiofrequency ablation srfa for malignant liver tumors novice versus experienced operators |
| topic | radiofrequency ablation stereotaxy reliability liver tumor |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/2/175 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT peterschullian reliabilityofstereotacticradiofrequencyablationsrfaformalignantlivertumorsnoviceversusexperiencedoperators AT gregorlaimer reliabilityofstereotacticradiofrequencyablationsrfaformalignantlivertumorsnoviceversusexperiencedoperators AT edwardjohnston reliabilityofstereotacticradiofrequencyablationsrfaformalignantlivertumorsnoviceversusexperiencedoperators AT danielputzer reliabilityofstereotacticradiofrequencyablationsrfaformalignantlivertumorsnoviceversusexperiencedoperators AT gernoteberle reliabilityofstereotacticradiofrequencyablationsrfaformalignantlivertumorsnoviceversusexperiencedoperators AT gerligwidmann reliabilityofstereotacticradiofrequencyablationsrfaformalignantlivertumorsnoviceversusexperiencedoperators AT yannickscharll reliabilityofstereotacticradiofrequencyablationsrfaformalignantlivertumorsnoviceversusexperiencedoperators AT retobale reliabilityofstereotacticradiofrequencyablationsrfaformalignantlivertumorsnoviceversusexperiencedoperators |