There are many options for treatment of liver and lung metastases in colorectal cancer. When to use Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) and Microwave Ablation (MWA) in liver tumor treatment? Primary liver cancer and metastatic lesions in liver from colon cancer can be effectively treated. Leading Swiss abdominal cancer surgeon explains surgical treatment options for colorectal cancer and liver tumors.

Liver cancer radiofrequency ablation . Microwave ablation liver tumors. 5. Dr. Anton Titov, MD. Let's talk about liver cancer. There is primary liver cancer such as hepatocellular carcinoma. There is secondary liver cancer, such as metastatic colorectal cancer. Their incidence is high and increasing in frequency. Surgical resection of liver tumors is the primary treatment choice. But radiofrequency ablation of liver tumors has also made a lot of progress recently. You co-authored a comprehensive review on best treatment practices in radiofrequency ablation of liver tumors. We discussed with Dr. Graeme Poston, a prominent liver cancer surgeon, progress in liver metastatic tumor resection. He mentioned that microwave ablation can eliminate 15 liver tumors in two hours or less. Which patients benefit most from radiofrequency ablation of liver tumors? And what is the future for radiofrequency ablation of primary liver cancer and metastatic liver cancer? Dr. Christoph Maurer, MD. Yes, indeed. These liver tumor ablation techniques are a very important novel tool in liver cancer surgery. The most appropriate indication for these tumors are small tumors up to three centimeter in diameter. Microwave ablation best treats liver tumors that are located centrally in the liver. Because the alternative to radiofrequency ablation of liver cancer would be a major hepatic resection. So, in small tumors radiofrequency ablation is very elegant to do. You go into the liver with a needle and apply heat to the tumor. Because a radio frequency applies heat by the same principle as microwave ovens heat up food. Heat is applied and produces necrosis of liver cancer tumor. There is also a necrosis of a small rim of normal surrounding tissue of the liver. Dr. Christoph Maurer, MD. You have a safety margin around resected liver cancer tumor. So with this technique, you can avoid a major hepatic resection. Radiofrequency ablation procedure is best for tumors up to three centimeters. So you have a high rate of complete necrosis and elimination of these liver tumors. Radiofrequency ablation works well for metastastatic liver tumors from colorectal cancer. It also works well for primary liver cancer . You can combine microwave ablation or radiofrequency ablation with liver resections. For instance, on one liver lobe you do an ablation. And on the other side of liver you do a resection of tumors. Microwave ablation enlarges the spectrum of cancers you can treat. It enlarges the resectability of liver tumors. Radiofrequency ablation is a useful novel tool. So it's an amazing method to treat liver caner for liver surgeons. It's very important especially for liver cancer patients. Because they have another chance to get cured just by this new microwave tumor ablation technique. Dr. Anton Titov, MD. So, it's also important for patients to realize that radiofrequency ablation and microwave ablation are equally good for the patient. But it's important to select the method that the surgical team is feeling most comfortable with using. Is that correct? Dr. Christoph Maurer, MD. Yes, absolutely. You need to have experience. Otherwise, it's not so easy. It's not just putting a needle into the liver and applying heat. But you have to be sure to be at the correct position with your needle. And you have to check this by ultrasound. But if you have experience with radiofrequency ablation or microwave ablation, it's a very good technique to treat liver cancer. It is also a reliable technique. Dr. Anton Titov, MD. So in experienced hands, such as yours, the results of radiofrequency ablation of liver tumors is as good as the surgical resection of the particular lesion? Dr. Christoph Maurer, MD. We think so, yes. We think so for smaller liver cancer tumors. Dr. Anton Titov, MD. for liver tumors that are less than 3 centimeters, as you mentioned. Dr. Christoph Maurer, MD. Correct. Liver cancer radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Microwave ablation liver tumors (MWA). Radiofrequency ablation of metastatic colon cancer into the liver. Tumor ablation for liver cancer is being used together with hepatic resection by many surgeons today. Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation of Liver Tumors is common technology for multiple liver metastases for colorectal cancer. RFA for Liver Tumors: Does It Really Work? – Yes, radiofrequency ablation is fast and effective method for liver tumor removal.