Effect of percutaneous microwave ablation on liver cancer and its complications in 171 patients

Objective To study the therapeutic effect of percutaneous microwave ablation（PMWA） on liver cancer and its complications. Methods One hundred and seventy-one liver cancer patients（274 nodules with a maximum diameter of 0.9-5.7cm and a mean diameter of（2.3±0.9）cm）,143 hepatocellular carcinoma（HCC） patients（234 nodules）,and 16 metastatic liver carcinoma（MLC） patients（15 nodules） were treated with ultrasound-guided PMWA.Single point ablation was applied for nodules with their diameter≤1.7cm and multipoint ablations were applied for those with their diameter ＞1.7cm.The patients were regularly followed up for 2-26 months after treatment,during which local tumor progression was found in the original foci or their surrounding areas. Results The mean PMWA time was（474.0±228.0）s for a single lesion.CT,contrast-enhanced ultrasound or MRI showed no enhanced manifestations in 261 nodules or at their margins and enhanced manifestations in 13 nodules or at their margins 1 month after PMWA,with an effective rate of 95.3%（261/274）.The incidence of local tumor progression was 8.8%（24/274） during the 2-26 months follow-up period.The incidence of major complications was 1.1%（3/274）,including liver abscess in 1 patient which was cured after antibiotic treatment with a dwelling tube,edema and mildly-thickened gallbladder wall in 1 patient,and infection adjacent to the liver margin below the ablation area.No severe injury and death occurred due to PMWA. Conclusion PMWA is a safe and effective procedure for liver cancer and its complications.