Brief Article
Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 28, 2011; 17(36): 4143-4148
Published online Sep 28, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i36.4143
Radiofrequency ablation vs hepatic resection for solitary colorectal liver metastasis: A meta-analysis
Yun-Zi Wu, Bin Li, Tao Wang, Shuang-Jia Wang, Yan-Ming Zhou
Yun-Zi Wu, Bin Li, Tao Wang, Shuang-Jia Wang, Yan-Ming Zhou, Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreato-Vascular Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, Fujian Province, China
Author contributions: Zhou YM participated in the design and coordination of the study, carried out the critical appraisal of studies and wrote the manuscript; Wu YZ and Li B developed the literature search, carried out the extraction of data, assisted in the critical appraisal of included studies and assisted in writing up; Wang T and Wang SJ carried out the statistical analysis of studies; Zhou YM interpreted data, corrected and approved the manuscript; All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Correspondence to: Yan-Ming Zhou, MD, Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreato-Vascular Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, 55 Zhenhai Road, Xiamen 361003, Fujian Province, China. zhouyms@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +86-592-2139708 Fax: +86-592-2137289
Received: December 22, 2010
Revised: January 19, 2011
Accepted: January 26, 2011
Published online: September 28, 2011
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the comparative therapeutic efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and hepatic resection (HR) for solitary colorectal liver metastases (CLM).

METHODS: A literature search was performed to identify comparative studies reporting outcomes for both RFA and HR for solitary CLM. Pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using either the fixed effects model or random effects model.

RESULTS: Seven nonrandomized controlled trials studies were included in this analysis. These studies included a total of 847 patients: 273 treated with RFA and 574 treated with HR. The 5 years overall survival rates in the HR group were significantly better than those in the RFA group (OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.22-0.90, P = 0.008). RFA had a higher rate of local intrahepatic recurrence compared to HR (OR: 4.89, 95% CI: 1.73-13.87, P = 0.003). No differences were found between the two groups with respect to postoperative morbidity and mortality.

CONCLUSION: HR was superior to RFA in the treatment of patients with solitary CLM. However, the findings have to be carefully interpreted due to the lower level of evidence.

Keywords: Hepatic resection; Colorectal liver metastases; Radiofrequency ablation; Efficacy; Meta-analysis