title: Comparison of Laparoscopic Microwave to Radiofrequency Ablation of Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma (≤3 cm).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laparoscopic thermal ablation is a common alternative to surgical resection in treating hepatic tumors, particularly in those located in difficult-to-reach locations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the safety and long-term efficacy of laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  From February 2009 to May 2015, data from patients with HCC nodules who had undergone either laparoscopic MWA or laparoscopic RFA were examined. Complications, complete ablation rates, local tumor progression (LTP) rates, and disease-free and cumulative survival rates were compared between the two treatment groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 154 patients with HCC (60 MWA and 94 RFA) were treated via the laparoscopic approach. Major complication rates were identified as 1 and 2 % in the RFA and MWA groups, respectively (p = 0.747). Complete ablation rates were 95 % for both treatment groups (p = 0.931), and LTP rates were 21.2 % for RFA and 8.3 % for MWA (p = 0.034). Disease-free survival rates at 5 years were 19 % in the RFA group and 12 % in the MWA group (p = 0.434), while cumulative survival rates at 5 years were 50 % in the RFA group and 37 % in the MWA group (p = 0.185).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic RFA and MWA appear to be safe in the treatment of early-stage HCC. The LTP rates were lower in the laparoscopic MWA group compared with the laparoscopic RFA group, but their respective overall and disease-free survival rates remained similar.
authors: UOC di Chirurgia Epato-bilio-pancreatica e Digestiva, Ospedale San Paolo, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy. rsantambrogio@mclink.it.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Santambrogio
authors: Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
authors: Jason
authors: J
authors: Chiang
authors: UOC di Chirurgia Epato-bilio-pancreatica e Digestiva, Ospedale San Paolo, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors: Matteo
authors: M
authors: Barabino
authors: Servizio di Radiologia Ecografia Interventistica, Ospedale Valduce, Como, Italy.|Servizio di radiologia Interventistica e di Procedure Speciali, Casa di Cura Igea, Milan, Italy.
authors: Franca Maria
authors: FM
authors: Meloni
authors: Divisione di Medicina Interna-Epatologia, San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan School of Medicine, Milan, Italy.
authors: Emanuela
authors: E
authors: Bertolini
authors: Servizio di Radiologia Diagnostica ed Interventistica, Ospedale San Paolo, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Melchiorre
authors: UOC di Chirurgia Epato-bilio-pancreatica e Digestiva, Ospedale San Paolo, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors: Enrico
authors: E
authors: Opocher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011846:Radio Waves; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome