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SATURDAY, Nov. 6 (HealthDayNews) -- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a safe and effective treatment for liver tumors pushing on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, says a South Korean study in the November issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.

Another study in the same issue found that RFA is even more effective when alcohol is injected into the liver tumor before RFA treatment.

RFA uses electrodes to heat and destroy abnormal tissue.

The study included 41 people who had a liver tumor pushing on the GI tract. RFA treatment eliminated 34 of the 41 tumors and there were no long-term bowel complications in any of the patients.

"Many investigators have cautioned that RFA of tumors abutting the bowel could result in collateral thermal damage to the bowel. Also, there is potential for the tines of the electrode to perforate the bowel," researcher Dr. Hyo K. Lim said in a prepared statement.

But this study shows that RFA is safe in such situations, Lim said.

In the second study, American researchers found that injecting alcohol into the liver tumor immediately before RFA treatment meant that more of the tumor was destroyed with each treatment. That means that patients require fewer RFA sessions.

This RFA/alcohol combination could lead to more effective treatment of liver tumors, especially large tumors, the study authors said. They also said this combination may be effective for treating tumors in other areas of the body.

More information

The American Cancer Society has more about liver cancer.

(SOURCE: American Roentgen Ray Society, news release, Nov. 2, 2004)

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