Comparison between microwave ablation and radiofrequency ablation in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

L iver cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the third cause of cancer related death and accounts for 7% of all cancers. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents more than 90% of primary liver cancers and is a major global health problem (Liovet et al., 2012). Local ablation competes with surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma<3 cm and may be considered as first-line treatment depending on age/associated comorbidities and location of the tumor (Bruix et al., 2014). Among them radio-frequency (RF) ablation and microwave (PMC) ablation are the most commonly used modalities. Aim of the work This study was a prospective interventional comparative study aiming to compare the therapeutic efficacy of percutaneous microwave coagulation (PMC) and radio frequency ablation (RFA) for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients & Methods 40 HCC patients eligible for loco-regional treatment (BCLC A and 0) with single HFL less than 5 cm with no history of previous intervention for HCC were enrolled, and randomized into two groups.

Group I: 20 patients who underwent percutaneous microwave ablation (PMC), 18 males (90%) and 2 females (10%) with a mean age of 59.4±8.6 years and mean tumor size of (3.8±0.7)cm measured by ultrasound. Group II: 20 patients who underwent percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA), 17 males (85%) and 3 females (15%) with a mean age of 59.8±6.2years and mean tumor size of (2.8±0.8) cm measured by ultrasound.