[Microwave coagulo-necrotic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma]

Area of Science:

• Minimally invasive surgical techniques
• Hepatobiliary surgery
• Oncology

Context:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents significant treatment challenges, particularly in multinodular cases or when recurrence risk is high.
• Traditional hepatectomy may carry substantial risks of postoperative liver failure in certain patient populations.
• Emerging therapies are crucial for improving outcomes in HCC management.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of microwave coagulo-necrotic therapy (MCN) as a surgical treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
• To assess MCN's applicability in cases with high recurrence likelihood, intrahepatic metastasis, or adenomatous hyperplasia.
• To determine MCN's suitability for patients at high risk of liver failure following hepatectomy.

Summary:

• Microwave coagulo-necrotic therapy (MCN) was performed on 46 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), involving 70 cancer nodules.
• Indications included high recurrence risk (54.3%), intrahepatic metastasis, adenomatous hyperplasia (19.6%), and high risk of liver failure post-hepatectomy (15.2%).
• Tumor sizes varied, with a maximum of 90 x 65 mm. The 4-year survival rate was high, with only 4 deaths (including one non-cancer related), indicating MCN's comparable efficacy to hepatectomy.

Impact:

• MCN demonstrates comparable survival rates to hepatectomy for HCC, offering a less invasive alternative.
• This therapy provides a valuable option for patients with multinodular HCC or those at high risk of postoperative complications.
• Further research into MCN can refine surgical strategies for liver cancer treatment.