Clinical Results, Risk Factors, and Future Directions of Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Microwave Ablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Tian-Tian Dong,1– 3 Lan Wang,1– 3 Ming Li,1– 3 Ci Yin,1– 3 Yuan-Yuan Li,1– 3 Fang Nie1– 3 1Ultrasound Medical Center, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, 730030, People’s Republic of China; 2Ultrasound Center, Gansu Province Clinical Research Center for Ultrasound, Lanzhou, 730030, People’s Republic of China; 3Intelligence Ultrasound Center, Gansu Province Medical Engineering Research Center for Intelligence Ultrasound, Lanzhou, 730030, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Fang Nie, Ultrasound Medical Center, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730030, People’s Republic of China, Tel [phone], Email [email protected]: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, with a relatively poor prognosis, especially for advanced HCC. With the availability of a variety of treatment options, the treatment strategies for HCC have become more and more diversified. Microwave ablation (MWA) has gradually been considered as a viable alternative to surgical resection (SR) owing to its comparable long-term survival, reduced complications, and greater preservation of hepatic parenchyma. However, clinical outcomes, tumor progression, and recurrence of HCC after MWA remain major concerns. Here, after reviewing the current therapeutic options for HCC, we focus on MWA, describing the advantages and challenges of MWA and the clinical results after treatment. We then focused on prognostic factors that influence post-ablation clinical outcomes and briefly presented the strategy of MWA for future clinical treatment.Keywords: microwave ablation, hepatocellular carcinoma, clinical outcomes, progression

Keywords

• microwave ablation
• hepatocellular carcinoma
• clinical outcomes
• progression