Microwave ablatiofi of hepatocellular carcinoma in the era of minimally invasive surgery / 中华消化外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Microwave ablation(MA)has been one of the most quickly developed minimally invasive techniques for trearing hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)in the last decade.Under accurate imaging guidance,MA shares the common advantages of thermal ablation such as flexible treatment approaches,good tolerability and the ability to consistently create reproducible and predictable necrotic areas.It also exhibits several particular advantages compared with other thermal ablation methods,including higher thermal efficiency,higher capability of coagulating blood vessels,faster ablation time,and an improved convention profile.Over the years,MA equipments,especially the antenna,have been refined for safety and to increase the coagulation zone.With the development of internally-cooled antenna and using the frequency of 915 MHz nficrowave,the technique is becoming safer and the coagulation zone increased significantly.Initially,MA was limited to the treatment of small HCC,but with the improvement of antenna and treatment strategV,large HCC(＞5 cm)can also be ablated effectively.For the"curative"treatment of HCC.the following eriteria need to be metsingle HCC with the lesion of 6 am or smaller;three or fewer HCC lesions with a maximum diameter of 4 cm,and absence of portal vein thrombosis or extrahepatic metastases.A five-year cumulative survival rate has exceeded 50%,which is comparable with resection.Moreover,the local immune function is enhanced after MA.A change in immunocyte infiltration takes place in number,configuration and location after patients with HCC are treated with MA.Further research for MA may be focused on the improvement of the maneuverability of the equipment,increase of the accuracy of antenna puncture and consummate the clinical therapeutic standardization.