Efficacy and long‐term outcome of laparoscopic microwave coagulation or radiofrequency ablation therapy for surface‐type hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Microwave or radiofrequency ablation therapy has been widely perfomed for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Whereas ablation therapy is effective treatment, it cannot be perfomed easily, as is evident in several reports of severe complications. We treated surface‐type HCC under laparoscopy in avoidance of complications from March 1996. In the present study, we examined the efficacy and long‐term outcome of laparoscopic ablation therapy.Patients and Methods: The patients were 47 cases (58 lesions) of HCC treated by laparoscopic ablation therapy under general anesthesia in our Center from March 1996 until March 2003.Results: The surface‐type HCC to which the therapy was applicable accounted for approximately 15% of all cases. The overall 5‐year survival rate was 62%. Hepatic reserve and rate of intrahepatic recurrences in the remnant liver after curative treatment were the limiting factors on the survival rate. There was no serious complication in the treatment. It was well tolerated and brought about good quality of life.Conclusion: Laparoscopic ablation therapy was considered to be an easy and effective approach, and its utility was also recognized in the avoidance of the problems of percutaneous treatment, such as bleeding or damage to the adjacent organs.