[Usefulness of percutaneous low output microwave tissue coagulation therapy for solitary liver cancer]

The possible use of percutaneous transhepatic low output microwave tissue coagulation therapy (PMCT) using ultra-sonography under local anesthesia for solitary liver cancer was studied. The subjects were 13 patients having primary or metastatic liver cancer with solitary liver tumor less than 3 cm in diameter, including 7 hepatocellular carcinomas and 6 metastatic liver cancers. PMCT was performed continuously 3 times at an output of 30 watts for 30 seconds at a time. Tumors less than 3 cm in diameter were completely coagulated by irradiation from 2 to 6 times, judging by enhanced CT. No tumor recurrence was recognized in the coagulation area. However, in two cases of metastasis from pancreatic carcinoma, multiple metastases were found at another site in the liver by 2 months after PMCT. Thus, the results suggest that PMCT is a useful therapy for small liver tumor as a local control.