title: [Long-term results of percutaneous sonographically-guided microwave ablation therapy of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the long-term results of percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy in the treatment of early hepatocellular carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  From May 1994 to June 2004, a total of 216 patients with 275 nodules of hepatocellular carcinoma whose diameter <or= 5 cm had undergone percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (193 men, 23 women; mean age, 54.68 years). Institute review board approval and informed consent were obtained. Complete tumor necrosis rates, long-term survival rates, recurrence rates and the complications of the patients were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up period after microwave ablation was 40 months +/- 24 (range, 6 - 127 months). One hundred fifty-nine remained alive and consulted our hospital periodically as outpatients. Fifty-seven patients died. Complete tumor necrosis was seen in 95.64% (263/275) patients. One, 2, 3, 4 and 5-year cumulative survival rates were 94.87%, 88.81%, 80.44%, 74.97% and 68.63%, respectively. One, 2, 3, 4 and 5-year cumulative recurrence rates were 20.01%, 32.04%, 39.57%, 44.97% and 52.90%, respectively. Three patients have severe complications, including needle track implantation in one patient, biliary fistula in two patients. One patient died of pulmonary infection one week after the treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sonographically-guided microwave coagulation therapy could make complete tumor necrosis in most cases of early hepatocellular carcinoma with low incidence of complications and this method has satisfactory long-term curative effect.
authors: Department of Ultrasound, General Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100853, China.
authors: Bao-wei
authors: BW
authors: Dong
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Liang
authors: Xiao-ling
authors: XL
authors: Yu
authors: De-jiang
authors: DJ
authors: Yu
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Feng
authors: Zhi-gang
authors: ZG
authors: Cheng
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Zhi-li
authors: ZL
authors: Wang