Background/Objectives:Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an important local treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of tumor recurrence after RFA and analyze predictors of tumor recurrence and survival in patients with HCC.Methods:We retrospectively reviewed data from treatment-naïve patients with HCC who underwent RFA for HCC treatment between 2008 and 2017 at four tertiary hospitals in South Korea.Results:A total of 636 patients with HCC treated with RFA were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 66.3 ± 10.4 years, with 75.0% of patients being male. Most patients (96.7%) had underlying liver cirrhosis, and viral hepatitis (types B and C) accounted for most cases. The average maximum tumor size was 2.2 ± 0.9 cm, with 84.3% of tumors being single lesions. During the follow-up period, 331 patients experienced recurrence, with 95.5% of cases being intrahepatic and one-fifth occurring at the RFA site. Most patients underwent RFA or transarterial chemoembolization as subsequent therapy for recurrence. Multivariate analysis revealed that age, the albumin–bilirubin (ALBI) grade, and Child–Pugh class B status were independent factors associated with tumor recurrence. Only the ALBI grade was significantly associated with mortality. Additionally, the ALBI grade differentiated between recurrence-free survival and overall survival in the Kaplan–Meier survival curve.Conclusions:The ALBI grade was independently associated with tumor recurrence and prognosis in patients with HCC following RFA. This grading system can help clinicians identify high-risk patients, optimize treatment strategies, and enhance patient care.
背景/目的：射频消融（RFA）是肝细胞癌（HCC）的重要局部治疗手段。本研究旨在评估RFA后肿瘤复发的特征，并分析HCC患者肿瘤复发及生存的预测因素。方法：我们回顾性分析了2008年至2017年间在韩国四家三级医院接受RFA治疗的初治HCC患者的数据。结果：本研究共纳入636例接受RFA治疗的HCC患者。平均年龄为66.3±10.4岁，其中75.0%为男性。大多数患者（96.7%）伴有基础肝硬化，病毒性肝炎（乙型和丙型）占主要病因。肿瘤平均最大直径为2.2±0.9厘米，84.3%为单发病灶。在随访期间，331例患者出现复发，其中95.5%为肝内复发，五分之一发生在RFA治疗部位。多数复发患者后续接受了RFA或经动脉化疗栓塞治疗。多变量分析显示，年龄、白蛋白-胆红素（ALBI）分级和Child-Pugh B级状态是肿瘤复发的独立相关因素。仅ALBI分级与死亡率显著相关。此外，Kaplan-Meier生存曲线显示ALBI分级能有效区分无复发生存期和总生存期。结论：ALBI分级与HCC患者RFA后的肿瘤复发及预后独立相关。该分级系统有助于临床医生识别高危患者、优化治疗策略并改善患者管理。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家