Microwave coagulation therapy for liver metastases from colorectal cancer]

Hepatic resection has gained acceptance as the most effective therapy for liver metastases from colorectal cancer. Microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) and radiofrequency ablation as well as resection are also reported as effective therapies. We analyzed the prognosis of 52 patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer treated with MCT as the first radical therapy. A total of 4 percutaneous MCT's (3 cases with interruption of hepatic blood flow), 23 MCT's with laparotomy, and 25 with hepatic resection + MCT with laparotomy were performed. Thirty-three MCT's performed as a second therapy for recurrence in the liver were also analyzed. Clinical risk scoring as reported by Fong, et al was used in our cases. The indication for percutaneous MCT with interruption of hepatic blood flow is solitary tumor less than 20 mm in diameter. The 5-year survival rate for the 4 percutaneous MCT's, 23 MCT's with laparotomy, and 25 hepatic resection + MCT's with laparotomy and 68 hepatic resections were 20, 24 and 24%, respectively. No significant difference was found among them. The 5-year survival rate for the 17 MCT's and 12 hepatic resections with recurrence in the liver were 20% and 24%, respectively. There was no significant difference found between them. The 5-year survival rate for the 28 CRS3 was 17%, almost equal to the rate, 20%, reported by Fong, et al for hepatic resections only. MCT is effective therapy for liver metastases from colorectal cancer, recurrence in the liver, and hepatic resections.