Image and pathological changes after microwave ablation of breast cancer: A pilot study

Abstract

PurposeTo prospectively assess MR imaging evaluation of the ablation zone and pathological changes after microwave ablation (MWA) in breast cancer. Materials and methodsTwelve enrolled patients, diagnosed with non-operable locally advanced breast cancer (LABC), were treated by MWA and then neoadjuvant chemotherapy, followed by surgery. MR imaging was applied to evaluate the effect of MWA. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were applied to analyze the ablated area. ResultsAll MWA procedures were performed successfully under local anesthesia. For a mean duration of 2.15min, the mean largest, middle and smallest diameters in the ablated zone 24-h post-ablation in MR imaging were 2.98cm±0.53, 2.51cm±0.41 and 2.23cm±0.41, respectively. The general shape of the ablation zone was close to a sphere. The ablated area became gradually smaller in MR imaging. No adverse effects related to MWA were noted in all 12 patients during and after MWA. HE staining could confirm the effect about 3 months after MWA, which was confirmed by TEM. Conclusions2min MWA can cause an ablation zone with three diameters larger than 2cm in breast cancer, which may be suitable for the local treatment of breast cancer up to 2cm in largest diameter. However, the long-term effect of MWA in the treatment of small breast cancer should be determined in the future.