Percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy for superficial hepatocellular carcinoma.

We report a 67 year-old man with residual hepatocellular carcinoma after arterial embolization therapy, which was located on both the anterior and inferior surfaces of segment 6 of the liver. Percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy could be performed safely and the treated tumor became non-enhancing on contrast computed tomography. Two years after treatment, the tumor remains non-enhancing on contrast computed tomography and has decreased in size. Percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy appears to be useful even in patients who have superficial liver tumors associated with cirrhosis.