Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as a cytoreductive strategy for hepatic metastasis from breast cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with liver metastasis from breast cancer have a poor prognosis, although this may be improved by hepatectomy in a selected group with disease confined to the liver. We evaluate the effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as a cytoreductive strategy in the management of liver metastasis from primary breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nineteen patients with hepatic metastasis from primary breast cancer underwent RFA of their liver lesions between April 1998 and August 2004.

RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 52 years (range, 32-69 years), 8 had disease confined to the liver, with 11 having stable extrahepatic disease in addition. Seven patients with disease confined to the liver at presentation are alive, as are 6 with extrahepatic disease, median follow-up after RFA was 15 months (range, 0-77 months). Survival at 30 months was 41.6%. In addition, 7 patients followed up for a median of 14 months (range, 2-29 months) remain alive and disease-free. RFA failed to control hepatic disease in 3 patients. RFA was not associated with any mortality or major morbidity.

CONCLUSIONS: Control of hepatic metastasis from breast cancer is possible using RFA and may lead to a survival benefit, particularly in those patients with disease confined to the liver.