1999 Volume 17 Pages 89-93
We treated 30 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by laparoscopic microwave coagulation therapy (LMCT) and 5 patients with hepatic tumors by laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH). LMCT : The HCC was between 10 and 35 mm in longest diameter. After observation of the surface of the liver during laparoscopy as usual, the lesions were punctured with a electrode needle, coagulated with 60 to 80 W for 45 seconds. The efficacy of LMCT was evaluated by dynamic CT or dynamic MRI. After LMCT, 3 lesions of 3 patients were thought to be coagulated insufficiently and additional therapy was needed. The lesions of the other patients seemed to be coagulated sufficiently. LH : We treated 5 patients by LH under general anesthesia. The longest diameters of tumors were between 13 mm and 45 mm. All tumors were located at the edge of the liver. We coagulated the surrounding tissues around the tumors with the above mentioned method and resected the coagulated lesions with Laparoscopic Coagulating Shears System. The bleeding were few and no serious complications were not found. Conclusions : Laparoscopic treatment for HCC was useful but the indication was restricted by location of HCC.