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Complications of Microwave Ablation for Liver Tumors: Results of a Multicenter Study

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Abstract

Purpose

New technologies for microwave ablation (MWA) have been conceived, designed to achieve larger areas of necrosis compared with radiofrequency ablation (RFA). The purpose of this study was to report complications by using this technique in patients with focal liver cancer.

Methods

Members of 14 Italian centers used a 2.45-GMHz generator delivering energy through a cooled miniature-choke MW antenna and a standardized protocol for follow-up. They completed a questionnaire regarding number and type of deaths, major and minor complications and side effects, and likelihood of their relationship to the procedure. Enrollment included 736 patients with 1.037 lesions: 522 had hepatocellular carcinoma with cirrhosis, 187 had metastases predominantly from colorectal cancer, and 27 had cholangiocellular carcinoma. Tumor size ranged from 0.5 to 10 cm. In 13 centers, the approach used was percutaneous, in 4 videolaparoscopic, and in 3 laparotomic.

Results

No deaths were reported. Major complications occurred in 22 cases (2.9%), and minor complications in 54 patients (7.3%). Complications of MWA do not differ from those RFA, both being based on the heat damage.

Conclusion

Results of this multicenter study confirmed those of single-center experiences, indicating that MWA is a safe procedure, with no mortality and a low rate of major complications. The low rate of complications was probably due to precautions adopted, knowing in advance possible risk conditions, on the basis of prior RFA experience.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mrs. Rosalind Roberts for the English editing.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Interventional Radiology, IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, MI, Italy

    Tito Livraghi

  2. Department of Radiology, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy

    Franca Meloni

  3. Department of Interventional Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliera di Busto Arsizio, Varese, Italy

    Luigi Solbiati

  4. General Surgery and Organ Transplantation, Azienda Università di Padova, Padova, Italy

    Giorgio Zanus

Authors
  1. Tito Livraghi
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  2. Franca Meloni
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  3. Luigi Solbiati
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  4. Giorgio Zanus
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Consortia

For the Collaborative Italian Group using AMICA system

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tito Livraghi.

Additional information

This study is conducted for the Collaborative Italian Group using AMICA system. The study group members are listed in Appendix.

Appendix

Appendix

Department heads and participating centres of the Italian Collaborative Group using microwave AMICA system: G. Zanus, General Surgery and Organ Transplantation, Azienda Università, Padova; L. Solbiati, Interventional Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera, Busto Arsizio (Varese); F. Meloni, Radiology, Ospedale San Gerardo, Monza; A. Noto, Internal Medicine, Ospedale Annunziata, Cosenza; O. Goletti, Surgery, Ospedale di Pontedera (Pistoia); RF. Grasso, Radiology, Università Campus Bio-Medico, Roma; C. Pusceddu, Radiology, Ospedale Oncologico Businco, Cagliari; R. Nani, Radiology, Ospedali Riuniti, Bergamo; M. Mazzucco, Hepatology, USLS17 Este (Padova); G. Poggi, Oncology, IRCCS Fondazione Maugeri, Pavia; R. Santambrogio, Surgery, Ospedale San Paolo, Milano; L. Mezzolla, Internal Medicine, Casa di Cura Villa Verde, Taranto; F. Fiore, Interventional Oncology, Istituto Tumori, Napoli; E. Bissoli, Radiology, Azienda Alta Padovana Camposampiero (Padova).

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Livraghi, T., Meloni, F., Solbiati, L. et al. Complications of Microwave Ablation for Liver Tumors: Results of a Multicenter Study. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 35, 868–874 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-011-0241-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-011-0241-8

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