Combined therapy with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and percutaneous microwave coagulation for small hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of combined transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
Thirty-five patients with a total of 41 HCC nodules (<= 3 cm in diameter) were treated with TACE followed by computed tomograghy (CT)-guided percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) within 1-3 wk.


RESULTS
By biopsies and enhanced CT scans, complete necrosis of the tumor and 3-5 mm of the surrounding non-cancerous area were observed in 34 foci. In seven foci, incomplete necrosis of the surrounding parenchyma was observed. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels returned to normal 10 d after treatment in 25 patients who originally had high serum AFP levels. The follow-up period was 6-31 mo, and all patients remained alive. One patient had a recurrence in the subsegments of the liver, and another patient had a recurrence near the original lesion.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined therapy with TACE and PMCT is a safe and effective treatment without severe complications for small HCC.
Yang
Wei-Zhu
WZ
Interventional Radiology Department, Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian Province, China. hjy999@126.com
Jiang
Na
N
Huang
Ning
N
Huang
Jing-Yao
JY
Zheng
Qu-Bin
QB
Shen
Quan
Q
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed