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European Radiology
Published in: European Radiology 7/2022

29-01-2022 | Hepatocellular Carcinoma | Interventional

Microwave ablation versus radiofrequency ablation for subcapsular hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity score–matched study

Authors: Hang Zheng, Kaiwen Liu, Yao Yang, Bo Liu, Xinya Zhao, Yong Chen, Yuemin Feng, Min Meng, Xu Tan, Qiang Zhu

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 7/2022

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Abstract

Objectives

Thermal ablation is now accepted as one of the curative treatments for patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the efficacy of this treatment for subcapsular HCC is not well characterized. Therefore, we aimed to compare the outcomes of microwave ablation (MWA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for patients with subcapsular HCC.

Methods

In total, 195 patients with subcapsular HCC who met the Milan criteria and underwent MWA or RFA were included. Local tumor progression (LTP), overall survival (OS), recurrence beyond the Milan criteria (RBM), and complications of these patients were compared.

Results

After propensity score matching, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year cumulative LTP rates were 6.7%, 9.6%, and 11.4% in the MWA group, and 13.4%, 24.6%, and 29.1% in the RFA group, respectively (p = 0.006). The cumulative rates of RBM were lower in patients treated with MWA than in those treated with RFA (4.4% versus 12% at 1 year; 14.5% versus 23.0% at 3 years; and 37.4% versus 53.9% at 5 years; p = 0.03). The OS rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 97.1%, 85.9%, and 73.4% in the MWA group, and 95.6%, 80.4%, and 61.4% in the RFA group, respectively (p = 0.36). The rate of major complications showed no significant difference between the MWA group and the RFA group (17.4% vs. 11.6%, p = 0.33).

Conclusion

Compared to RFA, MWA showed better tumor control for subcapsular HCC within the Milan criteria. There was no difference in the incidence of major complications between the two groups.

Key Points

•Compared to radiofrequency ablation , microwave ablation showed better local tumor control for patients with subcapsular hepatocellular carcinoma.
•Microwave ablation showed similar major complication rates for patients with subcapsular hepatocellular carcinoma.
•Microwave ablation may be preferred for patients with subcapsular hepatocellular carcinoma when they need to receive thermal ablation.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Microwave ablation versus radiofrequency ablation for subcapsular hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity score–matched study
Authors
Hang Zheng
Kaiwen Liu
Yao Yang
Bo Liu
Xinya Zhao
Yong Chen
Yuemin Feng
Min Meng
Xu Tan
Qiang Zhu
Publication date
29-01-2022
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 7/2022
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-022-08537-5

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