Post‐radiofrequency ablation syndrome after percutaneous radiofrequency of abdominal tumours: One centre experience and review of published works

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate prospectively post-radiofrequency ablation (RFA) syndrome and to determine its effect on the quality of life in the 15 days after percutaneous RFA treatment. We carried out an internal review board-approved prospective study of the delayed symptoms that occurred after 71 consecutive RFA sessions in 53 patients (12 women and 41 men; age range 45-83 years; mean age 71.6 years) with 45 primary liver tumours, 34 liver metastases, 3 renal cell carcinoma (RCC), 2 residual lesions from RCC after nephrectomy and 1 pancreatic metastases from RCC. Postablation symptoms occurred in 17 of 53 (32%) patients. Six of 17 patients developed low-grade fever (from 37.5 to 38.5 degrees C). Other symptoms included delayed pain (9/17), nausea (7/17), vomiting (3/17), malaise (3/17) and myalgia (1). Postablation syndrome is a common phenomenon after RFA of solid abdominal tumours. Not only in our study but also in the previous ones the occurrence is observed in approximately one-third patients. Patients should be informed that these symptoms are self-limiting after RFA and most patients should be able to resume near-complete preprocedural levels of activity within 10 days after the procedure.

Percutaneous Ablation in the Kidney

“…A relatively common anticipated side effect following percutaneous RF ablation of abdominal tumors is known as postablation syndrome, which includes low-grade fever (37.5°-38.5°C), delayed pain, nausea, vomiting, malaise, and myalgias ( 77 ). In a retrospective review by Carrafi ello et al ( 77 ), postablation syndrome was observed in 32% of 53 patients who had undergone percutaneous ablation of an abdominal tumor.…”

“…In a retrospective review by Carrafi ello et al ( 77 ), postablation syndrome was observed in 32% of 53 patients who had undergone percutaneous ablation of an abdominal tumor. These symptoms are notable for being self-limited, responding well to acetaminophen or nonsteroidal antiinfl ammatory agents, and otherwise requiring no procedural intervention ( 78 ).…”

Microwave ablation therapy for treating primary and secondary lung tumours: technical note

“…La tecnologia delle microonde (MW) è un trattamento ablativo relativamente nuovo applicabile a differenti tipologie di neoplasie, in grado di offrire tutti i benefici della radiofrequenza, presentando inoltre sostanziali vantaggi, quali: volumi di necrosi cellulare più ampi, riduzione del tempo di procedura, maggiori temperature alla lesione target, possibilità di utilizzare multiple antenne simultaneamente, efficacia su lesioni con componente cistica e/o in prossimità di strutture vascolari >3 mm di diametro con riduzione dell'heat sink effect, minore dolore intraprocedurale [5,6,[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22].…”

“…It is able to offer all the benefits of RFA as well as some substantial advantages. These include larger volumes of cellular necrosis, reduced procedure times, greater temperatures delivered to the target lesion, the possibility of the simultaneous use of multiple antennae, efficacy on lesions with cystic components and/or in proximity to vascular structures >3 mm in diameter with a reduction in the heat-sink effect, and less intraprocedural pain [5,6,[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22].…”

Hepatocellular carcinoma: Surgeon's view on latest findings and future perspectives

“…Recently, Zhang et al [52] demonstrated comparable results for MWA and RFA with regard to overall survival, local progression, and the degree of local tumor ablation for HCC < 3 cm [52] . Additionally, MWA shows the same frequency of post-ablation syndrome, i.e., occurrence of low-grade fever, nausea, vomiting, malaise, and postinterventional pain [53] as RFA [54] . In an actual multicenter study, Groeschl et al [55] demonstrated excellent complete tumor ablation rates of approximately 94% as assessed by histology after resection of the respective pre-treated tumors, with a reported median recurrencefree survival of 25 mo.…”