[Indication and limitation of microwave coagulation therapy for stage IV-A hepatocellular carcinoma]

Patients with stage IV-A hepatocellular carcinoma have been considered to have dismal prognosis. However, among them there are many of patients with multiple carcinoma of multicentric origin, whose prognosis is not necessarily poor. For treatment of multiple carcinoma, preoperative evaluation for the malignant aggressiveness of each nodule, and for liver function impairment is essential. Although hepatic resection has a high curability, resection sometimes impair long term survival because of postoperative deterioration of liver function. In this point, heat ablation therapy such as microwave coagulation therapy is favorable treatment, and for some nodules at early stage heat ablation therapy would have a sufficient curability to achieve long term survival. Authors decide on the selection of treatment (resection or heat ablation therapy) according to preoperative evaluation for the malignant aggressiveness by diagnosis of tumor gross type, and for the degree of liver impairment by serum hyaruronic acid level.