Scientific Reports (Jan 2022)

Microwave versus radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of liver malignancies: a randomized controlled phase 2 trial

  • Aleksandar Radosevic,
  • Rita Quesada,
  • Clara Serlavos,
  • Juan Sánchez,
  • Ander Zugazaga,
  • Ana Sierra,
  • Susana Coll,
  • Marcos Busto,
  • Guadalupe Aguilar,
  • Daniel Flores,
  • Javier Arce,
  • José María Maiques,
  • Montserrat Garcia-Retortillo,
  • José Antonio Carrion,
  • Laura Visa,
  • María Villamonte,
  • Eva Pueyo,
  • Enrique Berjano,
  • Macarena Trujillo,
  • Patricia Sánchez-Velázquez,
  • Luís Grande,
  • Fernando Burdio

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-03802-x
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Abstract Microwave (MWA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are main ablative techniques for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and colorectal liver metastasis (MT). This randomized phase 2 clinical trial compares the effectiveness of MWA and RFA as well as morphology of corresponding ablation zones. HCC and MT patients with 1.5–4 cm tumors, suitable for ablation, were randomized into MWA or RFA Groups. The primary endpoint was short-to-long diameter ratio of ablation zone (SLR). Primary technical success (TS) and a cumulative local tumor progression (LTP) after a median 2-year follow-up were compared. Between June 2015 and April 2020, 82 patients were randomly assigned (41 patients per group). For the per-protocol analysis, five patients were excluded. MWA created larger ablation zones than RFA (p = 0.036) although without differences in SLR (0.5 for both groups, p = 0.229). The TS was achieved in 98% (46/47) and 90% (45/50) (p = 0.108), and LTP was observed in 21% (10/47) vs. 12% (6/50) (OR 1.9 [95% CI 0.66–5.3], p = 0.238) of tumors in MWA vs. RFA Group, respectively. Major complications were found in 5 cases (11%) vs. 2 cases (4%), without statistical significance. MWA and RFA show similar SLR, effectiveness and safety in liver tumors between 1.5 and 4 cm.