[Microwave coagulation at different temperatures for hepatocellular carcinoma management: efficacy evaluation by enzyme histochemical staining].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the application of HE and enzyme histochemical staining in assessing the viability of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells coagulated by microwave ablation at different temperatures.


METHODS
Two groups of mice (n=6) with transplanted homogenic HCC were treated by microwave ablation at 60 degrees C and 50 degrees C for 3 min, respectively. Before and after microwave ablation, paraffin sections and frozen sections of the tumors were prepared for routine HE staining and enzyme histochemical staining with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide diaphorase (NADH-diaphorase), respectively, and observed under microscope.


RESULTS
Shortly after microwave ablation, the morphology and arrangements of the nucleus of the ablated tumor cells in the two groups showed no obvious alteration in HE stained sections, but in sections with enzyme histochemical staining, the activity of NADH-diaphorase in ablated tumor tissue at 60 degrees C disappeared, suggesting the death of HCC cells; sporadic activity of the enzyme was detected in the coagulated tumor at 50 degrees C, indicating tumor cells surviving the ablation. The ablation effect was markedly different between the two groups (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
HE staining is not suitable for evaluation of HCC destruction immediately after microwave ablation, and detection of NADH-diaphorase activity with the enzyme histochemical method better suits this purpose.
Liu
Da-quan
DQ
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Lu
Ming-de
MD
Tan
Jin-fu
JF
Wang
Zhu
Z
Zhou
Zhong-xin
ZX
D000818:Animals; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D008058:Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008872:Microwaves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013696:Temperature
D008058:Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase