الفهرس 
ANATOMY OF THE LIVEROnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Microwave ablation is the most recent development in the field of image guided thermal tumor ablation.
MWA systems are composed of three basic elements; microwave generator, cable line and microwave antenna.
A microwave generator emits an electromagnetic wave through the exposed, noninsulated portion of the antenna. Electromagnetic microwaves agitate water molecules in the surrounding tissue, producing friction and heat, thus inducing cellular death via coagulation necrosis.
The ablation zone size and shape produced by any antenna in live tissue depends on the antenna design, tissue type (taking into account the changes in the tissue properties during the ablation), thermal conduction from the active heating zone, and thermal sinks caused by nearby blood vessels.
The new simultaneous activation MWA system is adapted for the simultaneous activation of multiple-antenna clusters to achieve efficient production of large and controlled coagulation volumes to be used in large focal lesions.
Careful patient selection, choice of the most appropriate imaging modality, full pre-ablation imaging work-up is performed to accurately stage and locate the HCC lesions and to exclude tumor emboli and metastases.
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Summary & conclusion
The therapeutic efficacy of MWA can be augmented by other therapies. TACE may possibly control microscopic intra-hepatic metastases. As the two modalities are complementary, they can be used especially for treating large HCC.
Child-Pugh classification, tumor size, and number of tumors are identified as significant independent prognostic factors in patients with HCC treated with Microwave ablation.
The 5 year survival rate with microwave ablation of HCC is fairly high. There is a significantly higher long term survival for patients with a single tumor of 4.0 cm or smaller in maximum diameter and Child-Pugh class A cirrhosis.
No treatment related deaths for percutaneous MWA have been reported to date. The total complication rate range is (10%–14%), with 2% complication rate observed in the treatment of patients with one small tumor.
The main advantages of microwave technology, when compared with existing thermo-ablative technologies, include consistently higher intratumoral temperatures, larger tumor ablation volumes, faster ablation times, and an improved convection profile.
The technology is still in its infancy, and future developments and clinical implementation will help improve the care of patients with cancer.