SURGICAL MICROWAVE ABLATION OF 3,035 LIVER TUMORS IN 1,416 PATIENTS: A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF 16 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

Abstract

Background: Microwave ablation (MWA) is a safe and effective treatment for a wide array of benign and malignant liver tumors, but most studies have thus far have been underpowered.

Methods: Retrospective review of a prospectively maintained, database of patients who underwent MWA between 2006 and 2023.

Results: 3,035 tumors were ablated during the study, 105 (6.5%) resulted in a readmission within 30 days. Most MWA were performed laparoscopically (86.8%, n=1,400). Median overall survival (OS) for MWA regardless of tumor pathology was 3.9 years (CI 3.5 - 4.4), and median overall recurrence-free survival was 2.2 years (CI 1.8 - 2.6). Median OS following MWA differed based on tumor pathology. Hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and colorectal liver metastasis had median OS of 3.7, 3.7, and 3.9 years, respectively. Median recurrence-free survival after MWA also differed significantly between pathologies.

Conclusions: Surgical MWA is a safe and effective technique in the treatment of diverse liver tumors. While overall and disease-free survival differed significantly by tumor pathology, each pathology demonstrated non-inferior overall and disease-free survival compared to previously cited best-standard therapy.

Mini abstract: Surgical MWA if an efficacious and safe treatment for multiple types of hepatic tumors. Here we report our outcomes over 16 years of experience across different pathologies, and advocate for increased use of ablation as part of the treatment for these patients.