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Updated: Apr 18, 2026
Treatment of Liver Metastases Using an Internal Target Volume Method for Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy
Published on: May 8, 2018
Minimally invasive local therapies for liver cancer
David Li1, Josephine Kang1, Benjamin J Golas1
11 Department of Radiology, Division of Interventional Radiology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY 10065, USA ; 2 Department of Medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA ; 3 Flushing Radiation Oncology Services, Flushing, New York, NY 11354, USA ; 4 Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center New York, New York, NY 10065, USA.
Abstract:
Primary and metastatic liver tumors are an increasing global health problem, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) now being the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Systemic treatment options for HCC remain limited, with Sorafenib as the only prospectively validated agent shown to increase overall survival. Surgical resection and/or transplantation, locally ablative therapies and regional or locoregional therapies have filled the gap in liver tumor treatments, providing improved survival outcomes for both primary and metastatic tumors. Minimally invasive local therapies have an increasing role in the treatment of both primary and metastatic liver tumors. For patients with low volume disease, these therapies have now been established into consensus practice guidelines. This review highlights technical aspects and outcomes of commonly utilized, minimally invasive local therapies including laparoscopic liver resection (LLR), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA), high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), irreversible electroporation (IRE), and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). In addition, the role of combination treatment strategies utilizing these minimally invasive techniques is reviewed.
Insights
Minimally invasive local therapies offer improved outcomes for liver tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This review covers techniques like laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) and various ablation methods for better patient survival.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Surgical Oncology
- Interventional Radiology
Background:
- Primary and metastatic liver tumors represent a significant global health challenge.
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, with limited systemic treatment options.
- Current treatments include surgery, transplantation, and locoregional therapies, with minimally invasive local therapies gaining prominence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the technical aspects and outcomes of commonly used minimally invasive local therapies for liver tumors.
- To highlight the role of combination treatment strategies utilizing these techniques.
Main Methods:
- Review of minimally invasive local therapies including laparoscopic liver resection (LLR), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA), high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), irreversible electroporation (IRE), and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).
- Discussion of combination treatment strategies.
Main Results:
- Minimally invasive local therapies are increasingly utilized for primary and metastatic liver tumors.
- These therapies are established in practice guidelines for low-volume disease.
- The review details technical aspects and outcomes of various local treatment modalities.
Conclusions:
- Minimally invasive local therapies provide improved survival outcomes for liver tumors.
- Combination treatment strategies may further enhance therapeutic efficacy.
- These techniques are crucial components in the multidisciplinary management of liver malignancies.
