Therapeutic efficacy of microwave coagulo-necrotic therapy for liver cancer

Abstract

From December 1994 to December 1997, 19 patients with liver cancer were undergone microwave coagulo-necrotic therapy (MCT). Nine patients were treated with MCT only, but the other 10 patients were treated by MCT combined with hepatic resection or PEIT or TAE. The approach of MCT were laparotomy (n = 15), thoracotomy (n = 1), laparoscopy (n = 3). In 19 patients, 26 nodules were treated by MCT. Twenty three nodules (88%) became complete tumor necrosis, and 3 nodules failed in complete necrosis. Post-operative complications were seen in 3 patients. These included pleural effusion in 2 patients, ascites and icterus in 1 patient. There was no operative mortality. Thus, we concluded that MCT can be effective, useful and safe therapeutic modality for liver cancer. But it was thought that MCT must be treated more carefully in some situations.