Background/aims: This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy for superficial hepatocellular carcinoma located on the surface of the liver.
Methodology: Among 58 cirrhosis patients with 71 hepatocellular carcinomas measuring < or = 20 mm in greatest dimension, 18 patients had a solitary superficial lesion located on the liver surface (superficial hepatocellular carcinoma group) and the other 40 patients had 53 lesions that were not in contact with the liver surface (non-superficial hepatocellular carcinoma group). All patients were treated by percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy alone and the response was assessed by using contrast-enhanced CT. The survival, tumor recurrence, and adverse effects were compared between the superficial and non-superficial hepatocellular carcinoma groups.
Results: The 4-year survival rates of the superficial hepatocellular carcinoma group (64.2%) and the non-superficial hepatocellular carcinoma group (58.9%) were not significantly different, and neither were the 4-year local recurrence rates (27.1% vs. 29.8%). Although there was a significantly higher incidence of severe pain during microwave irradiation in the superficial hepatocellular carcinoma group (23/47) when compared with the non-superficial hepatocellular carcinoma group (25/148), there were no differences between them in the incidence of fever or the changes in liver function after treatment. There were no serious adverse effects, such as hemorrhage or tumor cell seeding, in either group.
Conclusions: Percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy can be performed safely, even in patients with superficial hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis, so this method is effective for treating hepatic neoplasms regardless of the tumor location.