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Factors predicting outcomes of microwave ablation of small hepatocellular carcinoma

  • ABDOMINAL RADIOLOGY
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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of our study was to evaluate factors influencing effectiveness of percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) in patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (<3 cm).

Materials and methods

Between December 2007 and August 2015, 49 patients with 65 previously histological typed HCC were treated in a total of 61 sessions. Tumours were subdivided into central (>3 cm from the capsule) (n = 22) and peripheral (<3 cm from the capsule) (n = 43). Imaging follow-up was performed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment, then annually. Mean follow-up period was 18 months (range 1–55). Location of the lesion, age, sex, and underlying disease of the patients was analyzed and related with efficacy.

Results

Technical success was obtained in all cases. Residual disease was registered in 21 lesions (32.3 %): 13 were peripheral and 8 were central. Twelve of them were retreated with percutaneous MWA. Local recurrence was recorded in 8 lesions (12.3 %): 5 were retreated with MWA. No significant difference in terms of effectiveness was observed in lesions located in a central position and those situated in the peripheral position. Age, sex, and underlying disease not influenced results. Only one major complication was observed. The rate of minor complications was 24.5 %. Mortality at 30 days was 0 %.

Conclusions

Our results encourage the role of MWA in the treatment of small HCC. More numerous series and randomized studies are necessary to state the role of MWA and to select cases in which MWA may be more effective and safer than RFA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Insubria University, Viale Borri 57, 21100, Varese, VA, Italy

    Anna Maria Ierardi, Francesca Giorlando, Filippo Piacentino, Federico Fontana & Ejona Duka

  2. Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences Medical Physics, University Hospital of Varese, Viale Borri 57, 21100, Varese, VA, Italy

    Raffaele Novario

  3. Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Viale A. di Rudinì 8, 20142, Milan, Italy

    Salvatore Alessio Angileri & Gianpaolo Carrafiello

Authors
  1. Anna Maria Ierardi
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  2. Francesca Giorlando
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  3. Filippo Piacentino
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  4. Federico Fontana
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  5. Raffaele Novario
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  6. Salvatore Alessio Angileri
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  7. Ejona Duka
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  8. Gianpaolo Carrafiello
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gianpaolo Carrafiello.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Ierardi, A.M., Giorlando, F., Piacentino, F. et al. Factors predicting outcomes of microwave ablation of small hepatocellular carcinoma. Radiol med 122, 81–87 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-016-0694-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-016-0694-6

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