Thoracoscopy-assisted magnetic resonance guided microwave coagulation therapy for hepatic tumors

BACKGROUND: Microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) has become a safe and effective modality with which to treat hepatic tumors; MCT can be applied percutaneously, laparoscopically, thoracoscopically, and during laparotomy. When combined with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, MCT can be used to treat hepatic tumors located in the subdiaphragmatic area that are difficult to approach by ultrasound, because of the overlaying lower lung field. METHODS: To determine the usefulness of thoracoscopy-assisted interventional MR-MCT (T-IVMR-MCT, n = 73), we compared patients with hepatic tumors that were treated with percutaneous IVMR-MCT (P-IVMR-MCT, n = 69) and with T-IVMR-MCT. RESULTS: None of patient background, complication and recurrence rate, or length of hospital stay significantly differed between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: IVMR-MCT is a useful modality for treating hepatic tumors. Especially when tumors are located at the hepatic dome, T-IVMR-MCT was minimally invasive, while it appears to improve targeting of peridiagmatic hepatic lesions and has a complication profile similar to P-IVMR-MCT.