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Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Application of Laparoscopic Hepatectomy Combined with Intraoperative Microwave Ablation in Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis
Published on: March 3, 2023
Changes in interleukin-1β and 6 after hepatic microwave tissue ablation compared with radiofrequency, cryotherapy and
Fateh Ahmad1, Gianpiero Gravante, Neil Bhardwaj
1Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, UK.
Background:
Cytokine changes after microwave tissue ablation (MTA) were compared with hepatic resection, cryotherapy (CRYO), and radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Cytokine production was measured at various ablation volumes for each modality and correlated with the transitional inflammatory zone produced by the ablation techniques.
Methods:
Live rats underwent MTA, surgical resection, CRYO or RFA of 15%, 33%, or 66% of the total hepatic volume. Serum samples were collected preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, 24, and 48 hours after surgery and analyzed for pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6.
Results:
Significantly higher levels of both cytokines were present after CRYO and RFA compared with MTA, hepatic resection, or controls (P < .001). All animals survived except those undergoing RFA or CRYO of 66% of the hepatic volume, which died within 6 hours. Transitional zones produced after RFA were larger than those after CRYO or MTA, but no correlation was present with the amount of cytokines.
Conclusions:
Large-volume MTA is associated with a significant decreased cytokine response and is well tolerated compared with RFA and CRYO.
Insights
Microwave tissue ablation (MTA) shows a decreased cytokine response and better tolerance compared to radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and cryotherapy (CRYO) in large-volume liver procedures.
Area of Science:
- Hepatobiliary surgery
- Minimally invasive therapies
- Inflammatory response
Background:
- Comparing cytokine profiles of microwave tissue ablation (MTA) with hepatic resection, cryotherapy (CRYO), and radiofrequency ablation (RFA).
- Assessing cytokine production and inflammatory zones across different ablation volumes and techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate and compare the systemic inflammatory response, specifically cytokine changes, following various liver ablation techniques.
- To determine the safety and tolerability of MTA in comparison to RFA and CRYO.
Main Methods:
- Live rats underwent hepatic tissue ablation using MTA, surgical resection, CRYO, or RFA at varying volumes (15%, 33%, 66%).
- Serum samples were analyzed for interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 at multiple time points post-ablation.
Main Results:
- CRYO and RFA induced significantly higher levels of IL-1β and IL-6 compared to MTA and hepatic resection.
- High-volume CRYO and RFA (66%) led to mortality, while MTA was well-tolerated.
- No correlation was found between transitional inflammatory zone size and cytokine levels.
Conclusions:
- Large-volume MTA is associated with a significantly reduced cytokine response.
- MTA is better tolerated and demonstrates a more favorable inflammatory profile than RFA and CRYO for large hepatic volume ablation.

