{Reference Type}: Journal Article {Title}: Factors Impacting Microwave Ablation Zone Sizes: A Retrospective Analysis. {Author}: Mathy RM;Giannakis A;Franke M;Winiger A;Kauczor HU;Chang DH; {Journal}: Cancers (Basel) {Volume}: 16 {Issue}: 7 {Year}: 2024 Mar 26 {Factor}: 6.575 {DOI}: 10.3390/cancers16071279 {Abstract}: OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic conditions on ablation zone volumes (AZV) after microwave ablation (MWA).
METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 38 MWAs of therapy-naïve liver tumours performed with the NeuWave PR probe. Ablations were performed either in the 'standard mode' (65 W, 10 min) or in the 'surgical mode' (95 W, 1 min, then 65 W, 10 min). AZV measurements were obtained from contrast-enhanced computed tomography immediately post-ablation.
RESULTS: AZVs in the 'standard mode' were smaller than predicted by the manufacturer (length 3.6 ± 0.6 cm, 23% below 4.7 cm; width 2.7 ± 0.6, 23% below 3.5 cm). Ablation zone past the tip was limited to 6 mm in 28/32 ablations. Differences in AZV between the 'surgical mode' and 'standard mode' were not significant (15.6 ± 7.8 mL vs. 13.9 ± 8.8 mL, p = 0.6). AZVs were significantly larger in case of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) (n = 19) compared to metastasis (n = 19; 17.8 ± 9.9 mL vs. 10.1 ± 5.1 mL, p = 0.01) and in non-perivascular tumour location (n = 14) compared to perivascular location (n = 24, 18.7 ± 10.4 mL vs. 11.7 ± 6.1 mL, p = 0.012), with both factors remaining significant in two-way analysis of variance (HCC vs. metastasis: p = 0.02; perivascular vs. non-perivascular tumour location: p = 0.044).
CONCLUSIONS: Larger AZVs can be expected in cases of HCCs compared with metastases and in non-perivascular locations. Using the 'surgical mode' does not increase AZV significantly.