Microwave Ablation for the Treatment of Liver Cancer

Boris Kuvshinoff II, MD, MBA, associate professor, Division of Gastrointestinal/Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgical Oncology, director, Liver and Pancreas Tumor Center, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, discusses microwave ablation therapy for the treatment of liver cancer.

Clinical Pearls:

• Using this approach, microwaves can be applied directly to a tumor through a needle either through the skin or laparoscopically
• This technique allows for very quick and decisive thermal burns to the tumors, killing the tumor in place
• This approach is helpful for a frail patient, who cannot undergo a major liver resection and can also be used to kill multiple smaller tumors in the liver
• Microwave ablation also has a quick recovery