Surgical microwave ablation reduces local recurrence in HCC patients.

A study from St Vincent’s Hospital evaluated percutaneous and surgical microwave ablation (MWA) in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Findings indicated that surgical MWA (SMWA) resulted in significantly lower local recurrence rates compared to percutaneous MWA (31.4% vs. 10.7%). Although SMWA was associated with longer procedure times and hospital stays, overall survival rates remained unchanged between the two methods. Both MWA techniques are effective, and their complementary use is recommended for optimal outcomes in HCC patients.