Clinical and survival outcomes of percutaneous microwave ablation for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes of percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) and explore the prognostic factors for the survival of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC).

METHODS: A total of 107 patients (age: mean 58.0 years, range 15-85 years) with 171 ICCs (maximum size ≤5 cm, tumour number per patient ≤3) who underwent MWA for ICC during January 2009 to February 2016 were selected, and their clinical and pathological data were collected and reviewed. The MWA-associated mortality, major complication rate and survival were evaluated. The prognostic factors for survival in patients with ICC were analysed with univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS: The median follow-up after MWA was 20.1 months (2.8-63.5 months). There was no procedure-associated death. The overall procedure-associated major complication rate was 2.8%. The median PFS after MWA was 8.9 months; PFS rates after 6, 12, 18 and 24 months were 67.4%, 41.5%, 18.2% and 8.7%. The median OS was 28.0 months; OS rates after 1, 3 and 5 years were 93.5%, 39.6% and 7.9%. Child-Pugh class A and less tumour number were identified as factors predictive of prolonged PFS (HR for Child-Pugh class: 2.62, p = 0.001; HR for tumour number: 2.07, p = 0.002) and OS (HR for Child-Pugh class: 4.14, p < 0.001; HR for tumour number: 1.95, p = 0.024).

CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous ultrasound-guided MWA is safe and effective for ICC. Child-Pugh class A and less tumour number predict prolonged PFS and OS in patients with ICC treated by MWA.