title: International multicentre prospective study on microwave ablation of liver tumours: preliminary results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Microwave ablation (MWA) is increasingly utilized in the treatment of hepatic tumours. Promising single-centre reports have demonstrated its safety and efficacy, but this modality has not been studied in a prospective, multicentre study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen international centres recorded operative and perioperative data for patients undergoing MWA for tumours of any origin in a voluntary Internet-based database. All patients underwent operative MWA using a 2.45-GHz generator with a 5-mm antenna.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 140 patients, 114 (81.4%) were treated with MWA alone and 26 (18.6%) were treated with MWA combined with resection. Multiple tumours were treated with MWA in 40.0% of patients. A total of 299 tumours were treated in these 140 patients. The median size of ablated lesions was 2.5 cm (range: 0.5-9.5 cm). Tumours were treated with a median of one application (range: 1-6 applications) for a median of 4 min (range: 0.5-30.0 min). A power setting of 100 W was used in 78.9% of cases. Major morbidity was 8.3% and in-hospital mortality was 1.9%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These multi-institution data demonstrate rapid ablation time and low morbidity and mortality rates in patients undergoing operative MWA with a high rate of multiple ablations and concomitant hepatic resection. Longterm follow-up will be required to determine the efficacy of MWA relative to other forms of ablative therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, UK. david.iannitti@carolinashealthcare.org
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.forename: Kwan N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Fenella
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Welsh
authors.forename: Kit-Fai
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sherlock
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Choti
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Martinie
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Iannitti
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D001315:Australia; D005060:Europe; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008872:Microwaves / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States