title: Use of Percutaneous Sonographically Guided Microwave Ablation Therapy to Treat Inoperable Malignant Liver Tumours.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Microwave ablation (MWA) is a technique which is used to destroy tumours and soft tissues by using microwave energy to create coagulation and localized tissue necrosis. It is used to treat the tumours which are considered to be inoperable and used to treat those patients who are ineligible for surgery due to some factors. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the use of MWA in the treatment of liver cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data were collected from Department of Ultrasound, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital. From July 2010 to August 2011, a total of 123 patients with liver tumours was referred to Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital. One hundred patients were selected for this study and treated with MWA. The study group contained 64 (64%) males and 36 (36%) females with an average age (± SD) of 52 (± 5.1) years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One month after therapy, complete ablation was obtained in nodules. The complete ablation rate in tumors ≤ 3 cm and those > 3 cm was 98% and 94%, respectively. Microwave ablation success was higher with nodules ≤ 3 cm (57/58; 98.3%) in comparison to nodules > 3 cm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sonographically guided percutaneous microwave ablation proved to be safe, fast and effective for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Heilongjiang province 150081, China.
authors.forename: Q C
authors.initials: QC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Heilongjiang province 150081, China. chengwen69@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Heilongjiang province 150081, China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Heilongjiang province 150081, China.
authors.forename: Y X
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Heilongjiang province 150081, China.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Xing