Patient selection: hepatocellular carcinoma amenable to microwave ablation
Criteria for microwave ablation:
(1) single tumor with diameter of tumor <= 8 cm OR <= 5 tumors with diameters <= 6 cm
(2) absence of portal vein thrombosis
(3) absence of extrahepatic metastases
(4) prothrombin time < 23 seconds
(5) platelet count > 40,000 per µL
(6) tumor nodule >= 0.5 cm from main biliary duct and the colon
(7) an appropriate route for percutaneous puncture under ultrasound guidance
Favorable prognostic factors on multivariate analysis:
(1) Child-Pugh Class A
(2) single tumor nodule
(3) maximum diameter <= 4 cm
A Child-Pugh Class C was a poor prognostic finding.
Additional factors that may impact prognosis (but with higher p values):
(1) well-differentiated tumor
(2) (NOT new tumor) AND (NOT recurrent), which suggests the initial presentation
