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Clinic MICROWAVE OF LIVER TUMOR

Most liver of tumors are inoperable and require the use of other methods for treatment. Another non-surgical treatment method

for the ablation of these tumors is the microwave technique.

In addition, microwave can be used as a complementary therapy in liver tumor surgery, general chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.

Microwave

This is the tumor tissue ablation technique using microwaves in the body. In fact, it is similar to home microwave ovens used for warming and cooking food and passes the same energy to tumors through a special antenna inserted into the lesion.

How microwave is performed

In this method, special antennas (microwave needles) will be inserted into the tumor guided by CT scan. Then, the living cancerous cells in the site will be ablated by connecting to the microwave generator and creating heating.

Priority of microwave over surgery

In the case where number of lesions in the liver is limited (less than 5 lesions) and they are small (less than 7cm), this surgery can achieve good results.

Duration of surgery

Depending of the number of lesions, this surgery takes almost 1 to 2 hours. After the operation, the patient will be controlled for 2 to 4 hours and, then, he/she will be discharged.

Anesthesia during the surgery

This surgery requires anesthesia because these tumors will be ablated with microwave at the temperature above 100ºC, and this temperature is intolerable. So, anesthesia is required.

Preparations for the surgery

– Patients should be fasting about 4 to 6 hours before the surgery.

-Having one companion is necessary for doing the patients works.

– Having the patients medical records (CT scan, MRI, and liver and blood coagulation tests) is necessary.

– Taking shower and shaving the abdominal region is necessary.

The necessary examinations before the surgery

– Your liver function should be examined by the doctor at this clinic.

– If you have heart disease or diabetes, make sure to notify the doctor so that the necessary measures would be taken.

– Before the surgery, it is necessary to run the required tests for blood coagulation.

– If you are taking medicines such as Aspirin, Warfarin, and Plevix, make sure to keep your doctor informed.

The possibility of tumor recurrence after the surgery

Tumor ablation does not mean the complete disappearance of the lesion and complete treatment because cancer cells may survive on tumor margins, leading to tumor recurrence. Thus, the patient will be examined in the next controls and, in case of recurrence, the tumor will be ablated again.

Post-operative hospitalization

This surgery is usually performed in an outpatient basis and the patient will be discharged in 2 to 4 hours. Depending on the patients condition, he/she may require hospitalization for 24 hours, which will be performed if necessary.

Post-operative bed rest

After this surgery, you will feel weakness, lethargy, anorexia, fever and, in some cases, pain in the shoulder area. These symptoms may last for 10 days. So, you will need to take rest for 7 to 10 days.

Evaluation of surgery results

If there is no particular problem, you should attend the clinic 3 months after the surgery for check-up and the next control.

Can liver tumors be destroyed is a single session using the microwave surgery?

The number of sessions will be determined according to the number and size of the liver tumors because, in each session, only 2 to 3 lesions can be ablated using the microwave technique.

Microwave impact in preventing the tumor growth

It depends on the patients admission time. If the size and number of lesions at the admission time are not excessive, surgery results will be desirable and highly effective in controlling the disease.

The Advantages Of The Microwave Technique

– Substitution for surgery

– Lack of possibility to perform surgery for various reasons

– Reduction of tumor size to help chemotherapy or radiotherapy

– Liver relief in cases where the tumor has caused

– Fewer invasions to the patients body, resulting in fewer side effects

– Helping the patients with tumor involvement in both lobes of the liver that cannot be operated
– Repeatability of the surgery in the event of tumor recurrence of cancer cells remaining in the tumor margin
– Removing the central parts of the tumor, while these parts do not respond well to radiotherapy

– Short recovery time compared with other methods

– Rapid recovery of the patient and the possibility of beginning chemotherapy immediately after the surgery

– No incision on the skin