Minimally invasive alternatives to traditional operative hepatic cryoablation: works in progress

Primary and secondary malignant disease of the liver remains a major health problem in the United States and abroad. It is estimated that over 130,000 new cases and 55,000 deaths will result from colorectal carcinoma in 1997. In this same year, 13,600 new cases and 12,400 deaths are also expected to result from primary hepatic tumors. Worldwide, hepatocellular carcinoma results in approximately 250,000 deaths yearly.