Accelerated tumour recurrence following percutaneous laser hyperthermia of colorectal liver metastases

Abstract

Background: Percutaneous laser hyperthermia (PLH) is a locally ablative technique used in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases. Despite its proven beneficial effects, a potential complication of PLH is acceleration of tumour growth in a small percentage of patients. This phenomenon may be the result of hypertermia-induced changes in tumour blood-flow, endothelial permeability, host immune response, expression of adhesion molecules and release of cytokines. This article describes four patients in whom stimulation of local and systemic metastasis may have occurred following treatment with PLH. Methods: A total of 96 patients underwent PLH for unresectable liver metastases. Four of thes..