title: Laparoscopic microwave thermal ablation for late recurrence of local hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplant: case report.
abstract: Liver transplant is the preferred treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis, as both neoplastic and cirrhotic liver tissue can be removed. Treatment of recurring neoplasms is a difficult issue, especially in long-term survivors of liver transplant. No consensus has been reached on the treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. Although patients with extrahepatic metastases are generally not candidates for local therapy, successful multimodal salvage therapy including resection or ablation can be achieved in liver transplant recipients with local recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Microwave ablation is safe and effective for treating unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma, achieving excellent results in local disease down-staging or as a "bridge" to liver transplant, with no significant differences in local recurrence and complications compared with the more commonly used radiofrequency ablation. A patient with local recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma 36 months after liver transplant for multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis due to hepatitis C was successfully treated with laparoscopic microwave ablation without any postoperative complications. The patient is disease free 24 months after microwave ablation.
authors.affiliation: Azienda Università di Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gringeri
authors.affiliation: Azienda Università di Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boetto
authors.affiliation: Azienda Università di Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bassi
authors.affiliation: Azienda Università di Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco Enrico
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: D'Amico
authors.affiliation: Azienda Università di Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polacco
authors.affiliation: Azienda Università di Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.affiliation: Azienda Università di Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.affiliation: Azienda Università di Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Feltracco
authors.affiliation: Azienda Università di Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zanus
authors.affiliation: Azienda Università di Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Cillo
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000628:therapy*