Hepatic Microwave Ablation in Challenging Locations. Semin Intervent Radiol 2019 Dec;36(5):392-397
Date
12/05/2019Pubmed ID
31798213Pubmed Central ID
PMC6887525DOI
10.1055/s-0039-1697003Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85075952412 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 9 CitationsAbstract
In recent years, there has been increased utilization of microwave ablation (MWA) in the treatment of soft tissue tumors. MWA has several theoretical advantages over radiofrequency ablation (RFA) by achieving a more rapid and sustained heating of tissues, increased efficacy in tissues with poor thermal conductivity, and less susceptibility to heat sink effect. While its greater power output has led to appropriate caution when applying this energy to soft tissue tumors, many commonly held beliefs regarding contraindications to MWA are unsupported by data and have been passed along based on experience with RFA. The goal of this article is to review the use of MWA in challenging clinical situations along with the existing evidence for its use.