Microwave surgery in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Microwave surgery was employed for the treatment of 50 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver cirrhosis, including hepatectomy in 46 patients and in situ coagulation of tumor in 4 patients. In the study, 2,450 MHz microwaves were generated and transmitted to a monopolar needle electrode. For hepatectomy, the needle electrode was inserted into the liver parenchyma to coagulate the liver tissue and this was repeated at 1 cm intervals along the line where incision is anticipated. For unresectable HCC, the needle electrode was directly inserted into HCC to coagulate the cancer in situ. The average amounts of blood loss and blood transfusion for 46 hepatectomies using microwave were 215 +/- 189 ml and 274 +/- 261 ml, respectively. Eighteen patients (39.1%) did not need blood transfusion. A significant lower volume of blood loss and blood transfusion was observed in comparison with 46 matched conventional hepatectomies, 652 +/- 1,008 ml and 841 +/- 878 ml, respectively, all being P < 0.01. There were no operative mortality and complications, such as delayed bleeding, bile leakage, and abdominal infection. These results indicate that microwave surgery can be utilized safely and effectively in the field of liver surgery.