Complications of thermal ablation of liver cancer: comparison of radiofrequency and microwave techniques / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the common complications of thermal ablations of liver cancer using both radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) techniques,and compare the safety between these two procedures.Methods A total of 879 patients with hepatic tumors underwent thermal ablation.There were 323 cases having the RFA procedures and 556 cases having MWA procedures.The complications of thermal ablations of liver cancer were compared using both RFA and MWA techniques.Results A total of 1030 thermal ablation sessions was performed in 879 patients with a total of 1652 tumors.There were 323 patients with 562 tumors received a total of 376 RFA.The other 556 patients with 1090 tumors received a total of 654 MWA.The mortality rates were 0.31 ％ (1/323) and 0.36％ (2/556) in RFA and MWA group.In RFA and MWA group,the major complication rates were 3.5％ (13/376)and 3.1％ (20/654),meanwhile the minor complication rates were 5.9％ (22/376) and 5.7％ (37/654).There was no statistical significant difference for the mortality rates,the major complications,the minor complications between the RFA and MWA groups (P ＞0.05).Conclusions Thermal ablation therapy in the treatment of liver cancers is relatively safe with low mortality and low incidence of serious complications.The types and incidences of complications caused by RFA and MWA are similar and comparable for safety consideration in clinical settings.