Microwave ablation of liver metastases to overcome the limitations of radiofrequency ablation

Abstract

Percutaneous MWA of liver metastases >3 cm or located near vessels (>3 mm) can be considered a valid and safe option, probably preferable to RFA. Further studies are required to confirm these encouraging initial results.

Laparoscopic microwave thermosphere ablation of malignant liver tumors: an initial clinical evaluation

“…The morbidity in these studies has ranged from 0 to 60 % and mortality 0-2 % [6,[19][20][21]. The current study, with no morbidity or mortality via a predominantly laparoscopic approach, compares favorably with these reports.…”

“…In the literature, different authors have reported on open [7,[16][17][18], percutaneous [6,19] and laparoscopic [20,21] applications of MWA for various malignant liver tumors. The morbidity in these studies has ranged from 0 to 60 % and mortality 0-2 % [6,[19][20][21].…”

A Comparative Study of Ablation Boundary Sharpness After Percutaneous Radiofrequency, Cryo-, Microwave, and Irreversible Electroporation Ablation in Normal Swine Liver and Kidneys

“…Length and width of the ablation as well as CT density within the ablation zone were recorded. H&E was used only to assess evidence of inflammation within the margins [18]. TUNEL is a common method for detecting DNA fragmentation, and can definitively identify non-viable cells at 24 hours [19].…”

Evaluation of microwave ablation of liver malignancy with enabled constant spatial energy control to achieve a predictable spherical ablation zone

“…Surgical treatment remains the treatment of choice for the curative therapy of liver malignancies; however, a considerable number of patients are inoperable [2,3]; consequently, alternative treatments, such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) [4], microwave ablation (MWA) [5,6], laserinduced-thermotherapy (LITT) [7], cryoablation [8], transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and stereotactic radiotherapy, have advanced over the last decade. MWA has been shown to combine the benefits of RFA while having its own benefits, namely, higher ablation volumes, shortened treatment duration, possibility of multiple antenna use, reduced susceptibility to the heat-sink effect and higher rates of local tumour control [9][10][11][12][13][14][15].…”