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Updated: Apr 18, 2026
Application of Laparoscopic Hepatectomy Combined with Intraoperative Microwave Ablation in Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis
Published on: March 3, 2023
Ablation therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma: a comparative study between radiofrequency and microwave ablation
Thomas J Vogl1, Parviz Farshid, Nagy N N Naguib
1Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe, University Hospital, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Purpose:
The aim of the study is to retrospectively evaluate and compare the therapeutic response of Radiofrequency (RF) and Microwave (MW) ablation therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Materials And Methods:
53 consecutive patients (42 males, 11 females; mean age 59 years, range: 40-68, SD: 4.2) underwent CT-guided percutaneous RF and MW ablation of 68 HCC liver lesions. The morphologic tumor response (number, location and size) was evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging. The follow-up protocol was 24 h post-ablation then within 3 monthly intervals post-ablation in the first year and 6 monthly intervals thereafter.
Results:
Complete therapeutic response was noted in 84.4% (27/32) of lesions treated with RFA and in 88.9% (32/36) of lesions treated with MW ablation (P = 0.6). Complete response was achieved in all lesions ≤2.0 cm in diameter in both groups. There was no significant difference in rates of residual foci of HCC lesions between RF and MW ablation groups (P = 0.15, Log-rank test). Recurrence rate for 3, 6, 9, and 12 months in patients with HCC who underwent RF ablation compared with MW ablation were 6.3%, 3.1%, 3.1% versus 0%, 5.6%, 2.8%, and 2.8%. Progression-Free Survival rates for treated patients with RF ablation of 1, 2, and 3 years were 96.9%, 93.8%, and 90.6% and treated with MW ablation therapy were 97.2%, 94.5%, and 91.7, respectively (P = 0.98).
Conclusion:
In conclusion, RF and MW ablation therapy showed no significant difference in the treatment of HCC regarding the complete response, rates of residual foci of untreated disease, and recurrence rate.
