ObjectiveTo explore the safety and feasibility of contrast enhanced intraoperative ultrasonographyguided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation with artificial hydrothorax to hepatocellular carcinoma in the hepatic dome. MethodsThe clinical data of nine patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in the hepatic dome underwent ultrasonographyguided percutaneous radiofrequnecy ablation with artificial hydrothorax from January 2008 to June 2009 at Department of Hepatobiliopancreatic Surgery of West China Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The perioperative results and recurrence of tumor were also analyzed. ResultsAll of nine patients with twelve tumors received successfully radiofrequency ablation with artificial hydrothorax of (2 444±464) ml (2 000-3 000 ml). The ablation time was 12-24 min (median 12 min), with an average of (15±5) min for each tumor. No hemothorax, pneumothorax, and death occurred during operation. One patient had ascites of 2 000 ml after ablation due to hypoalbuminenia, and ascites disappeared by infusion of abumin on 4 d after operation. The total volume of pleural drainage was 250-1 420 ml, with an average of (717±372) ml for each patient, and the drainage tube was withdrawn on 3-5 d after operation. The followup time was 7-23 months (mean 15 months). Tumor recurrence was found in three patients on 5, 6, and 7 months after operation, respectively. Of them, two patients were in stable disease stage after interventional and conservative therapy, respectively, and one case recurred at six months after operation and died of hypertensive heart disease and hepatic function deterioration at sixteen months after operation. The rest patients survived and no recurrence and metastasis was observed during the follow-up period.ConclusionThe technique of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation with artificial hydrothorax increases the feasibility of the minimal invasive treatment for hepatoma, which can be applied to hepatocellular carcinoma in the hepatic dome with high safety and clinical application value.