Comparative efficacy of stereotactic body radiotherapy and percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for oligometastatic liver disease—radiation oncologists’ perspective and practice guideline
British Journal of Radiology, vol.99, no.1184, pp.1529-1537, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Review
- Volume: 99 Issue: 1184
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.1093/bjr/tqag147
- Journal Name: British Journal of Radiology
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO)
- Page Numbers: pp.1529-1537
- Keywords: guideline, liver, oligometastatic disease, radiofrequency ablation, stereotactic body radiotherapy
- Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Localized treatment of oligometastatic liver disease can improve both local control and survival. The liver is a frequent site of metastases from colorectal, breast, and lung cancers, but most patients are not eligible for surgical resection due to lesion number, location, or comorbidities. For these patients, non-surgical ablative methods such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) are widely used. While RFA has been the traditional approach, SBRT is emerging as a promising alternative, offering precise, non-invasive treatment. SBRT may be especially useful for larger lesions or tumors in locations where RFA is difficult to perform. However, high-quality evidence and large-scale trials are still needed to confirm its efficacy and define its role. This review compares the strengths and limitations of both methods and provides practical guidance for clinical decision-making in the treatment of patients with inoperable liver metastases.