Oncologic Outcomes after Percutaneous Ablation for Colorectal Liver Metastases: An Updated Comprehensive Review.

Simple Summary: Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cancer-related mortality cause. More than a third of CRC patients develop liver metastases during the course of the disease, contributing to poor prognosis. Thermal ablation techniques are currently recommended as a local curative option for selected small liver metastases. Thermal ablation (TA) includes a wide variety of different modalities, like radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA) and cryoablation (CRA). This comprehensive review outlines the role of image-guided ablation in the treatment of colorectal liver metastatic (CLM) disease. Colorectal cancer is a major cause of cancer-related mortality, with liver metastases occurring in over a third of patients, and is correlated with poor prognosis. Despite surgical resection being the primary treatment option, only about 20% of patients qualify for surgery. Current guidelines recommend thermal ablation either alone or combined with surgery to treat limited hepatic metastases, provided that all visible disease can be effectively eradicated. Several ablation modalities, including radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, cryoablation, irreversible electroporation and histotripsy, are part of the percutaneous ablation armamentarium. Thermal ablation, including radiofrequency, microwave ablation and cryoablation, can offer local tumor control rates comparable to limited resection for selected tumors that can be ablated with margins. This review aims to encapsulate the current clinical evidence regarding the efficacy and oncologic outcomes after percutaneous ablation for the treatment of colorectal liver metastatic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]