1994 Volume 12 Pages 71-79
Experimental studies were carried out in order to investigate both the efficacy of microwave coagulation therapy and the feasibility of percutaneous microwave coagulation procedures on a rabbit implanted VX-2 renal tumor. In the first experiment, a VX-2 tumor mass (1 cubic mm) was inoculated into the left kidney of 18 rabbits. The rabbits were divided into 3 groups according to the type of subsequent treatment; these include nephrectomy, microwave coagulation, and “no treatment” groups. The survival rate in the microwave coagulation group was significantly higher than that of the “no treatment” group, but was the same as that of the nephrectomy group. Serum creatinine and BUN levels did not increase after microwave coagulation, although both increased significantly until 4 weeks following nephrectomy. In the histological evaluation, carcinoma cells completely disappeared following microwave therapy.
In the second experiment, percutaneous microwave coagulation on the implanted renal tumor was performed under ultrasonographic and laparoscopic monitoring. These 2 monitoring systems made it possible for us to perform a safe and complete coagulation procedure. Our results indicate that microwave coagulation may be a curative method of treatment for small renal tumors, and that either ultrasonographic monitoring or laparoscopic monitoring facilitates percutaneous microwave therapy of renal cancer in a clinical situation.
