Thermal ablation for pulmonary oligometastases from hepatocellular carcinoma: initial experience and retrospective study

PMCID: PMC12177983

PMID: 40533817

DOI: 10.1186/s40644-025-00896-8

Journal: Cancer imaging : the official publication of the International Cancer Imaging Society

Publication Date: 2025-6-18

Authors: Hou R, Zhou X, Li Y, Qin Y, Song M, et al.

Key Points

• Thermal ablation achieved 100% technical success with 96.8% technical efficacy in treating pulmonary oligometastases from HCC
• Median overall survival was 33.0 months, with 1-year survival rate of 98.4%
• Initial BCLC staging and radical primary HCC treatment are critical determinants of patient outcomes

Summary

This retrospective study evaluated thermal ablation for pulmonary oligometastases (POs) from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), examining long-term efficacy and prognostic factors in 62 patients with 145 metastatic lesions. The research focused on understanding the outcomes of thermal ablation as a treatment strategy for patients with limited pulmonary metastases from HCC, with a median follow-up of 30 months.

The study demonstrated promising clinical outcomes, with 100% technical success and a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 11.4 months. Multivariate analysis revealed critical prognostic factors, including initial Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage and primary HCC treatment approach. Radical treatments for primary HCC and early-stage BCLC classification (stages 0-B) were significantly associated with superior survival outcomes, suggesting that patient selection and comprehensive treatment strategies are crucial for managing pulmonary metastases.