Comparative study of the efficacies of ultrasound guided percutaneous microwave ablation versus surgical resection for the treatment of primary small liver carcinoma

Objective To compare the efficacies of ultrasound guided percutaneous microwave ablation and surgical resection for the treatment of primary small liver carcinoma whose diameter≤3 cm. Methods Forty-four patients with primary small liver carcinoma had undergone ultrasound guided percutaneous microwave ablation therapy, while 54 patients had undergone surgical resection. Disease-free survival rates and cumulative survival rates were compared among the two groups. Results The 3-, 6-, 12-, 24-, 36- and 48-month disease-free survival rates of the microwave ablation group were 93.0%, 88.0%, 77.2%, 60.2%, 31.2% and 31.2% respectively, while those of the surgical resection group were 90.7%, 90.7%, 80.0%, 70.1%, 70.1% and 56.1% respectively, with P=0.207. The 6-, 12-, 24-, 36- and 48-month cumulative survival rates of the microwave ablation group were 97.4%, 97.4%, 92.9%, 83.6% and 83.6% respectively, while those of the surgical resection group were 96.2%, 96.2%, 96.2%, 88.2% and 75.6% respectively, with P=0.869. Microwave ablation group were superior to surgical resection group in terms of postoperative liver function(ALT, AST, ALB)and the average postoperative hospital stay, with P<0.05. Conclusions Ultrasound guided percutaneous microwave ablation could get almost equal efficacy to surgical resection, and had small damage to patients, with postoperative recovery fast, so it can be one kind of the preferred treatments for primary small liver carcinoma. Key words: Ultrasonography; Carcinoma, hepatocellular; Microwave/therapeutic use