Review Article

Radiofrequency Ablation for Early Superficial Flat Esophageal Squamous Cell Neoplasia: A Comprehensive Review

Table 1

Characteristics of studies on RFA for ESCN.

First authorYearStudy designSample sizeInclusion criteriaInitial circumferential RFA regimenSurveillance focal RFA regimen and other endoscopic modalitiesPrevious ER (%)Follow-up regimenFollow-up, mean or median (IQR) (m)

Pouw [44]2008Case report1HGIN/ESCC J/cm2+cleaningNoNoD3, M2, M44
Becker [38]2011Case series6ESCC J/cm2 J/cm2Yes (67%)M1, M3, M6, and biannually thereafter10.5 (10-13)
Vilsteren [34]2011Prospective case series13HGIN/ESCC J/cm2+cleaning ( J/cm2 in 6 cases) J/cm2+cleaning between each twoYes (69%)M3, M6, and annually thereafter17 (11-22)
Bergman [35]2011Prospective cohort29MGIN/HGIN/ESCC J/cm2 or  J/cm2±cleaning J/cm2NoM3, M6, M9, and M1212
Haidry [41]2013Prospective cohort20HGIN/ESCC J/cm2 J/cm2Yes (25%)M3, M6, M9, and M1224 (17-54)
Wang [45]2014Prospective case series7HGIN/ESCC J/cm2+cleaning J/cm2+APCNoM1, M3, M6, and biannually thereafter10.5
Wang [8]2015Retrospective cohort18HGIN/ESCC J/cm2+cleaning J/cm2+APCNoM1, M3, M6, and biannually thereafter13.1
He [39]2015Prospective cohort96MGIN/HGIN/ESCC J/cm2 or  J/cm2 or  J/cm2±cleaning3 × 12 J/cm2NoM3, M6, M9 and M1212
Wang [46]2016Prospective cohort30HGIN/ESCC J/cm2+cleaning J/cm2+APCNoM1, M3, M6, and biannually thereafter17
Wang [43]2017Retrospective cohort8HGIN/ESCC J/cm2±cleaning J/cm2+APCNoM1, M3, M6, and biannually thereafter21.6
Wang [26]2018Prospective cohort35HGIN/ESCC J/cm2+cleaning J/cm2NoM1, M3, M6, and biannually thereafter40.1 (24-66)
Yu [40]2019Prospective cohort78MGIN/HGIN/ESCC J/cm2 or  J/cm2 or  J/cm2±cleaning J/cm2NoM3, M6, M9, M12, and every 3 months or annually thereafter60

RFA: radiofrequency ablation; ESCN: esophageal squamous cell neoplasia; ER: endoscopic resection; IQR: interquartile range; ESCC: esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; HGIN: high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia; MGIN: moderate-grade intraepithelial neoplasia; APC: argon plasma coagulation. Regimen adjustment was made to two applications of 15 J/cm2 with intermediate cleaning or three applications of 12 J/cm2 without cleaning.