Percutaneous Microwave Coagulation for the Treatment of Small Solitary Focal Nodular Hyperplasia of Liver

Background: Whether percutaneous microwave coagulation (PMC) is safe and effective for the treatment of symptomatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) of the liver remains unknown. Methods: Between January 2006 and September 2015, sixteen patients with solitary symptomatic FNHs in the liver (the largest diameter less than 5 cm) were treated by PMC. The safty and effectiveness were analyzed. Results: There were 4 males and 12 females. All these patients suffered from upper abdominal pain. The FNHs ranged in size from 3.2 cm to 5.0 cm (3.9 cm ± 0.12 cm). All the PMC procedures were performed successfully. All 16 patients had symptomatic improvement after the treatment with no procedure-related morbidity or mortality. Among 16 patients, 15 (93.8%) patients with FNHs were assessed to be ablated completely by CT examination performed within four weeks after PMC treatment. One patient failed to follow up regularly, but showed up 2 years and 7 months later for suffering upper abdominal pain again with original FNH enlargement, and the patient received surgical resection of the FNH and achieved asymptomatic aftermath. Conclusion: PMC is safe and effectiveness for symptomatic liver FNHs. PMC should be considered to be an alternative modality for those solitary FNHs with less than 5 cm in diameter.