Microwave Application in the Treatment of Local Liver Cancer

Liver cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. While surgical resection and liver transplantation are considered curative treatments, many patients are ineligible due to advanced disease or comorbidities. Microwave ablation (MWA) has emerged as a promising alternative. This study aims to evaluate the clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics and assess the efficacy of MWA in the treatment of local liver cancer. This prospective study included 41 patients with liver cancer who underwent ultrasound-guided MWA at Hue Central Hospital from January 2022 to December 2023. Patient characteristics, procedural outcomes, and post-treatment follow-up data were analyzed. The mean age: 61.48 ± 8.80 (33–79) years old with a male – to - female ratio of 3.5:1. The mean tumor size was 3.3 ± 1.2 (1.7–4.5) cm. One-stage complete tumor ablation was achieved in 82.9% of cases. The average follow-up was 13.5 ± 7.7 (3-21) months with a local recurrence rate of 14.6% and new tumor appearance in 7.3%. Two patients (4.9%) died after 13 months and 19 months. MWA is an effective alternative for liver cancer patients with tumors ≤ 5 cm who are ineligible for surgical resection. Further studies with larger cohorts and longer follow-up periods are needed.