Percutaneous microwave ablation of exophytic tumours in hepatocellular carcinoma patients: Safe or not?
To explore the long-term outcomes and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) of exophytic tumours in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.



One hundred and thirty-two patients with subcapsular HCC were enrolled in this retrospective study. These patients were divided into the exophytic group (n=71) and non-exophytic group (n=61) according to the location of the tumour(s). A special technology of puncture and ablation was performed to treat the exophytic tumours. The local tumour progression (LTP), progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analysed using Kaplan-Meier and Log-rank tests.



Sixty-nine of 71 exophytic tumours and 60 of 61 subcapsular tumours were completely ablated. The complete ablation rates were 97.2% and 98.4% respectively. The follow-up periods ranged from 6 to 62 months with a median of 31 months in the exophytic group, and ranged from 5 to 61 months, with a median of 27 months in the non-exophytic group. The 1-, 3- and 5-year cumulative LTP rates were 2.4%, 12.3%, 18.4% and 5.1%, 12.0%, 17.8% in the exophytic and non-exophytic groups respectively (P=.733). The 1-, 3- and 5-year OS rates were 100%, 75.7%, 52.9% and 95.0%, 73.8%, 61.5% in the exophytic group and non-exophytic group respectively (P=.980). There was no procedure-related mortality or major complication.



Ultrasound-guided percutaneous MWA is safe and effective for exophytic tumours in HCC patients. Treated by MWA, the HCC patients with exophytic tumours can get the similar local response and long-term outcome to those with non-exophytic subcapsular tumours.
Department of Ultrasound, Tianjin Third Central Hospital, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Artificial Cell, Tianjin, China.
Jianmin
J
Ding
Department of Ultrasound, Tianjin Third Central Hospital, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Artificial Cell, Tianjin, China.
Yan
Y
Zhou
Department of Ultrasound, Tianjin Third Central Hospital, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Artificial Cell, Tianjin, China.
Yandong
Y
Wang
Department of Ultrasound, Tianjin Third Central Hospital, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Artificial Cell, Tianjin, China.
Xiang
0000-0001-9088-365X
X
Jing
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Third Central Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Fengmei
F
Wang
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tianjin Third Central Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Yijun
Y
Wang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002681:China; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
hepatocellular carcinoma; microwave ablation; prognosis; ultrasound