How effective is microsphere embolization + microwave ablation for large hepatocellular carcinoma?

  Large hepatocellular carcinoma (tumor diameter >5cm), which is generally very rich in blood circulation, grows faster and is prone to vascular invasion or distant metastasis. If the tumor vascular bed is not firstly embolized by intervention but directly treated by RF ablation, the heat generated by RF needle is quickly taken away by the tumor blood circulation, and the local temperature can hardly reach above 70 degrees of effective killing temperature, resulting in incomplete ablation, omission and residual of tumor. Repeated radiofrequency ablation not only brings physical and mental pain to patients, but also increases patients’ economic burden.   According to Folkman’s theory of no tumor without blood supply, the interventional method completely embolizes the tumor vascular bed with microspheres (100um-300um), which not only completely interrupts the tumor blood circulation, but also makes the tumor ischemic and necrotic. In this case, then the RF/microwave needle is inserted into the center of the tumor, instantly the local temperature can reach more than 100 degrees, and the tumor can appear coagulative necrosis in about 8 to 10 minutes for microwave ablation and 30 to 40 minutes for RF ablation. After clinical observation of more than 30 cases of large hepatocellular carcinoma treated with microsphere embolization + ablation, it is found that 80% of the patients can achieve clinical cure after 1 to 2 treatments.