New microwave technology may treat liver tumours

Washington, Feb 04 (ANI): Doctors at UC San Diego Medical Center and Moores UCSD Cancer Center are offering a new minimally-invasive option for treating liver tumours, called microwave ablation.

"A liver tumour can be removed in many ways," said Marquis Hart, MD, transplant surgeon at UC San Diego Medical Center.

"Now, patients at UC San Diego have a new option called 'microwave ablation.' Simply put, we zap and destroy liver tumours with heat derived from microwave energy. This is an important alternative, especially since the majority of liver cancers cannot be partially removed and not all patients are transplant candidates," Hart added.

Current treatment options for liver cancer include transplantation, partial surgical removal of the liver, chemotherapy, radiation, or ablation-the destruction of abnormal tissue with heat from radiofrequency waves, high frequency ultrasound, freezing, or alcohol injection.

Now, microwave technology, offered by Covidien, removes the tumour with intense heat.

To perform the procedure, Hart accessed the tumour through the skin, or through a small laparoscopic port or open incision.

With ultrasound guidance or a computed tomography (CT) scan, the tumour is located and then pierced with a thin antenna, which emits microwaves.

This energy spins the water molecules in the tumour producing friction which causes heat. Temperatures above 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit) cause cellular death, usually within 10 minutes.

"Microwave ablation causes the tumour to be quickly and precisely removed. If necessary, multiple tumours can be treated at the same time," said Hart.

"This method appears to be more efficient than other ablation techniques which translates to better tumour destruction and less time for the patient under general anaesthesia," Hart added.

Apart from liver disease, microwave ablation has promising potential in the treatment of lung, kidney, and bone cancer. (ANI)