title: Percutaneous microwave ablation of larger hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) in patients with larger hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumours.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty HCC patients with the maximum tumour measuring between 3 and 8 cm were treated using MWA. Of these patients, 57 had initial HCC, while 23 had recurrent HCC. Fifty-two patients had a main tumour measuring 3-5 cm, and 28 had a main tumour measuring 5-8 cm. Local tumour control, complications, long-term survival, and prognostic factors were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete ablation after the initial treatment was achieved in 70 of 80 (87.5%) patients. Sixteen of the 72 (22.2%) successfully treated patients developed local recurrence. Major complications occurred in 7.5% patients. No procedure-related mortality was observed. The 1, 2, 3, and 5 year overall survival rates after the initial ablation were 81.1, 68.2, 56.5, and 34.6%, with a median survival of 56 months. Univariate analysis revealed that small tumour size (p = 0.003) and pre-ablation α-foetoprotein (AFP) level ≤400 ng/ml (p = 0.042) were favourable prognostic factors of overall survival. Multivariate analysis identified only tumour size as the independent prognosis factor (p = 0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous MWA is effective and safe for treating larger HCC tumours. The local tumour control and long-term survival are acceptable.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Department of Hepatobiliary Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Zheng
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Li
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Li
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Yuan
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000532:radiotherapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047368:Tumor Burden