Table 1 Nine cases of rapid unexpected spread of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFTA).
| Patient No | Sex, age, aetiology | % Efficacy | No of nodules | Size before RFTA (cm) | New nodules (time/months) | Grading | AFP (ng/ml) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | M, 79, HCV | 100% | 1 | 4.6 | Satellites + new controlateral HCC node (1 month) | G1 | 15.7 |
| 2 | M, 78, HBV | 90% | 2 | 2.4–3 | 3 (3 cm each) (3 months) | G1 | 32.9 |
| 3 | M, 61, HBV | 100% | 1 | 1.8 | Multifocal (>3) (4 months) | G1 | 32 |
| 4 | M, 68, HCV | 90% | 1 | 4.2 | 3 (1 month) | G1–G2 | 10 |
| 5 | M, 69, HCV | 100% | 2 | 4.2–1.5 | Multiple (up to 6 cm) (3 months) | – | 8 |
| 6 | M, 73, HCV | 100% | 1 | 4 | Multiple (>3) (1 month) | – | 32 |
| 7 | F, 73, HCV | 70% | 1 | 3.1 | 13 (5 months) | – | 117 |
| 8 | M, 65, HCV | 100% | 1 | 2.0 | 1 (8 cm) new lesion (7 months) | G1 | 12.6 |
| 9 | M, 72, HBV+ETOH | 100% | 1 | 2.8 | Multifocal (5 months) | G1 | 4.9 |
HBV, hepatitis B virus; HCV, hepatitis C virus; ETOH, alcohol; AFP, α fetoprotein.