Role of Microwave Ablation of Hepato-cellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Practical applications: The current study shows that MW ablation is similar to RF ablation in the pathologic appearance and imaging characteristics of ablation zones. MW ablation, however, appears to be less affected by the heat-sink effect of local blood vessels. Improved performance near blood vessels may be caused by the large zone of active heating at MW ablation in comparison to the relative dependence of RF ablation on passive thermal conduction. Alternatively, high temperatures generated at MW ablation may overcome the cooling effect of blood flow. The improved performance of MW ablation near blood vessels, combined with the ability to use multiple simultaneous probes, makes MW ablation a promising alternative to conventional ablative therapies. If local tumor recurrence is often due to survival of tumor cells near local blood vessels, MW ablation may help reduce recurrence following ablative therapy. Future animal and clinical studies will need to be designed to evaluate the relative performance of MW and RF ablation with respect to local recurrence of hepatic tumors.