Large nearly spherical ablation zones are achieved with simultaneous multi-antenna microwave ablation applied to treat liver tumours

摘要

Aim To investigate the shape and the volume of ablation zones obtained with microwave ablation (MWA) performed with multiple antennas in liver tumours. Materials and methods Tumour volume, number of antennas, size (long diameter (Dl), along the antenna axis; short diameter (Ds), perpendicular to the antenna axis; vertical diameter (Dv), vertical to both Dl and Ds) and shape (roundness index (RI); 1 corresponds to a sphere) of the ablation zone, ablation volume, and complications were evaluated. Results Mean Dl, Ds, and Dv were 4.7 +/- 1.4 cm, 3.9 +/- 1.4 cm, and 3.8 +/- 1.0 cm, respectively. Mean RIs (Ds/Dl, Dv/Dl, and Dv/Ds) were 0.83 +/- 0.13, 0.83 +/- 0.17, and 1.02 +/- 0.23, respectively, without any difference between the mean RI obtained with the double (0.84 +/- 0.01) and that with the triple-antenna (0.93 +/- 0.13) approach (p = 0.25). Mean ablation volume was 41 +/- 32 cm(3) (vs. mean tumour volume 13 +/- 10 cm(3); range 1-40; p < 0.001). No complications were noted. Conclusions Simultaneous multi-antenna MWA of liver tumours results in large nearly spherical ablation zones.