Surgical extirpation of liver tumors remains a proven approach in the management of metastatic tumors to the liver, particularly those of colorectal origin. Ablative, non-resective therapies are an increasingly attractive primary therapy for liver tumors as they are generally better tolerated and result in far less morbidity and mortality. Ablative therapies preserve greater normal liver parenchyma allowing better post-treatment liver function and are particularly appropriate for treating subsequent liver-specific tumor recurrence. This article reviews the current status of ablative therapies for non-hepatocellular liver tumors with a discussion of many of the clinically available approaches.
Keywords: Irreversible Electroporation; cryotherapy; electrochemotherapy; high intensity focused ultrasound; laser-induced thermotherapy; liver malignancy; microwave ablation; percutaneous ethanol injection; photodynamic therapy; radiofrequency ablation; stereotactic body radiotherapy.