Endoscopic microwave coagulation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Background : Usefulness of endoscopic microwave coagulation therapy (E-MCT) was examined in 27 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Material and Methods : HCC was found in 8 patients with type B liver cirrhosis (LC), 16 patients with type C LC, and 3 patients with non B non C LC. Median tumor size was 23 mm (solitary lesion 22, multiple 5). Laparoscopic MCT was performed for S2-6 lesion and thoracoscopic MCT for S8 lesion under general anesthesia. Linear type ultrasonography was used in every case for monitoring lesion ant therapeutic effect.Results : Complete tumor necrosis was obtained in 24 cases (81%) and local recurrence was found in 5 cases after the observation period of maximum 34 months. Pleural abscess, hemorrhage and hepatic infarction were found in 3 cases without serious outcome.Conclusions : We conclude that E-MCT is quite promising therapy for surface type HCC in term of minimally invasive and curative procedure a time. It is important that sufficient marginal coagulation should be obtained.