A Retrospective Outcomes Analysis Of Initial, Single, Intermediate-sized Hepatocellular Carcinoma Underwent Percutaneous Microwave Ablation

Purpose: Retrospective outcomes analysis after percutaneous microwave ablation(MWA) of initial, single, intermediate-sized (＞3cm≤5cm) hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Materials and Methods: This study was a retrospective study and was approved bythe institutional review board of our hospital. Written informed consents for percutaneousMWA were obtained from patients before treatment. From Jan2010through Jan2013, wereviewed patients with initial, single, intermediate-sized HCC underwent percutaneousMWA. Then technical success, technical effectiveness and complications were observed.Survival analysis was constructed with the Kaplan-Meier method. The relative prognosticsignificance factors of the variables for predicting survival and local tumor recurrence(s)was assessed with Cox analysis.Results: The study enrolled182patients (mean diameter of tumor3.72cm±0.54;male: female=155:27; mean age,58years; age range,22-86). Technical success andtechnical effectiveness rates were both100%(182/182and153/153, respectively).Estimated technical effectiveness rate was93%in182patients. Major complication ratewas2.7%(5/182). The cumulative recurrence-free survival and overall survival (OS) rateswere51%,36%,27%and89%,74%,60%at1-,2-, and3-years, respectively. Age (p value=0.017) and tumor diameter (p value=0.029) were independent factors of local tumorrecurrence. No factors had a statistically significant impact on recurrence-free survival.Albumin (p value=0.009) and new lesion(s)(p value=0.029) were variablesindependently associated with OS.Conclusions: Percutaneous MWA is relatively safe and efficient treatment for patientswith initial, single, intermediate-sized HCC. OS rate was60%, and recurrence-freesurvival rate was27%at3years. Albumin and new lesion(s) were variables independently associated with OS...