A comparative study of therapeutic effect between laparoscopic microwave coagulation and laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We retrospectively compared the therapeutic effect of microwave coagulation needle (Lap-MCT) and radiofrequency ablation needle (Lap-RFA).

METHODOLOGY

Between January 2001 and May 2012, 71 patients underwent laparoscopic ablation therapy for HCC with no extra hepatic metastasis. These patients were divided into 3 groups, according to the surgical strategies: Lap-MCT (n=40), Lap-MCT+RFA (n=13) and Lap-RFA (n=18). The patient background, tumor characteristics, cumulative survival rate, recurrence-free survival rate, time of operation and duration of hospitalization were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

The maximal tumor size, the number of tumors and the hepatic reserve from each group had no significant difference. Likewise, the time of operation and the duration of hospitalization had no significant difference. However, the number of needle punctures in the Lap-MCT group was significantly larger than that in the Lap-RFA group (p<0.05). Postoperative liver function had no significant difference between the groups. The 5-year cumulative survival rate was 71.5% (Lap-MCT), 66.7% (Lap-MCT+RFA) and 80.0% (Lap-RFA) showing no significant difference. Also, the recurrence-free survival rate and the local recurrence rate had no significant difference.

CONCLUSIONS

In the laparoscopic setting, MCT and RFA are equally effective in terms of short- and long-term results.