Usefulness of the percutaneous transhepatic microwave tissue coagulation therapy for the liver tumor as a bedside treatment

The possible use of percutaneous transhepatic microwave tissue coagulation (PTMTC) therapy for the liver tumor was studied in this paper. Macroscopic changes in the resected pig liver after microwave irradiation with a new type needle-electrode of that size was 18 gauge was first carried out, MTC was performed at the out put of 30 watts for 30 seconds at a time. The maximum coagulation area of the PTMTC in the fresh cut surface of the liver was macroscopically 20 mm × 10 mm in size when it was irradiated continuously from second to five times, and was oval shaped. PTMTC therapy was second performed in the patient with hepatocellular carcinoma. Tumor was not pointed out in the computed tomography six months after PTMTC therapy and alpha fetoprotein as tumor marker declined to almost within normal limits three months after PTMTC therapy. Thus, the results suggest that PTMTC is the useful therapy in the patients with small liver tumor as a bed side treatment.