CT-guided percutaneous cryoablation combined with systemic chemotherapy for liver metastases from esophageal carcinoma: Initial experience

• Published in: Cryobiology Vol. 87; pp. 99 - 104
• Main Authors: Wang, Yan, Zhang, Wei-Hao, Chang, Xu, Cao, Fei, Yu, Hai-Peng, Xing, Wen-Ge, Yang, Xue-Ling, Guo, Zhi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.04.2019
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Cryoablation; Cryosurgery - adverse effects; Cryosurgery - methods; Esophageal carcinoma; Esophageal Neoplasms - pathology; Female; Humans; Liver metastases; Liver Neoplasms - drug therapy; Liver Neoplasms - secondary; Liver Neoplasms - surgery; Male; Middle Aged; Progression-Free Survival; Quality of Life; Retrospective Studies; Survival Rate; Systemic chemotherapy; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome; Esophageal carcinoma; Liver metastases; Cryoablation; Systemic chemotherapy
• ISSN: 0011-2240; 1090-2392
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2019.01.011

To explore the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of percutaneous cryoablation combined with systemic chemotherapy in the treatment of liver metastases from esophageal carcinoma (ECLM). We retrospectively collected data of 16 patients who received CT-guided percutaneous cryoablation concurrent systemic chemotherapy for liver metastases after primary esophageal carcinoma resection. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) was used for the assessment of quality of life (QOL), and overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and complications were also evaluated. The technical success rate was 96%, and no major complications related to cryoablation procedure were detected. Median OS and PFS after cryoablation were 14.5 months (range, 4–51 months) and 7.5 months (range, 1–31 months), respectively. The 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year survival rates were 56.3%, 31.3%, and 18.8%, respectively. The PFS rate at 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year after procedure were 68.8%, 31.3% and 18.8%, respectively. Furthermore, the QOL of patients was improved after cryoablation therapy compared with preoperative scores (P < 0.05). Percutaneous cryoablation combined with systemic chemotherapy is a safe, feasible and effective method to treat liver metastases from esophageal carcinoma. And to a certain extent, this approach is very efficacious in improving the QOL of patients with ECLM.