Microwave ablation in combination with TACE for the treatment of primary hepatic carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of microwave ablation in combination with TACE for the treatment of primary liver carcinoma (PLC). Methods From Jan. 2004 to Dec. 2008, 63 PLC patients underwent ultrasound-guided microwave ablation (percutaneous or open) under general anesthesia. Repeated microwave ablation or TACE was used when an incompleted ablation or recurrence was found during postoperative regular follow-up. Results These 63 PLC patients have received a total of 82 sessions of microwave ablation procedure (1 to 5 sessions for each patient). There were 2 early postoperative deaths with a procedure-related mortality of 3.2%. At the end of the follow-up, 22 patients were alive and 38 died,and the other one was lost to follow-up. The survival rates in 1,2 and 3 years were 63.3%,42.1% and 26.5%, respectively, with a median survival of 20 months for all patients. The survival for PLC patients with early stage (TNM Ⅰ and Ⅱ) was significantly longer than that of advanced stage (TNM Ⅲ and Ⅳ). The 1,2 and 3 year's cumulative survival rate was 93.3%,86.7% and 65.0% respectively in those 15 cases with only single tumor and the diameter≤3 cm, which were significantly longer than that of other PLC patients. Of 23 patients with recurrence,9 had solitary tumor without lymphnode and distal metastases, for which the survival rates in 1,2 and 3 years were 100%,88.9%, and 35.6%, respectively, whereas in other recurrent patients the survival rates in 1,2 and 3 years were 21.4%, 10.7% and 0%, respectively(P< 0.01). Conclusions Ultrasound-guided microwave ablation in combination with TACE is effective for PLC patients with early stage. In recurrent PLC patients after ablation therapy with solitary tumor and no lymphnode and distal metastases the survival is significantly longer than that of the others. Key words: Liver neoplasms; Chemoembolization, therapentic; Microwave