ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the clinical value of artificial pleural effusion for percutaneous microwave ablation of liver cancer in the hepatic dome. Methods 28 difficult cases (total 34 lesions), all lesions were located in the hepatic dome and covered by lung. Infused with artificial pleural effusion by ultrasound real-time monitoring before percutaneous ultrasound-guided microwave ablation. The amount of artificial pleural effusion, the technique successful rate,the rate of lesions revealed, local treatment response and complications had been observed. Results The amount of artificial pleural effusionwas 200-1 000 mL [(388 ± 107)mL]. The technique successul rate of artificial pleural effusion was 100% (28 / 28), the rate of lesions revealed was 85.3%(29 / 34), the other 5 isoechoic lesions were revealed by contrast-enhanced ultrasound. All the 34 lesions was ablated completely, the complete ablation rate was 100%(34 / 34). the rate of complications was 2.9%(1 / 34), 1 patient was found a small amount of intraperitoneal hemorrhage after ablation. Conclusions Artificial pleural effusion assisted percutaneous microwave ablation of liver cancer in the hepatic dome is a safe , effective treatment, it broadened the percutaneous microwave ablation therapeutic range, and should be more widely used in clinically.