👉 What is it?
A minimally invasive treatment that uses microwaves to “cook” and kill tumor cells in the liver.
✨ Why to Choose MWA?
- Curative option for small tumors (<3 cm)
- Great for patients unfit for surgery
- Quick, safe, and repeatable
- Works even when blood flow cools the tumor (better than RFA)
👩⚕️ Who Can Benefit?
- Early HCC (≤5 cm single, or ≤3 nodules ≤3 cm)
- Patients with good liver function (Child-Pugh A/B)
- Not suitable for surgery or transplant
🚫 Who Should Avoid It?
- Advanced liver failure (Child-Pugh C)
- Widespread cancer or major vessel invasion
- Severe bleeding disorders
⚙️ How It’s Done:
- Imaging (ultrasound/CT) guides the needle → antenna into tumor
- Microwaves heat up → tumor destroyed
- Quick recovery, minimal hospital stay
📊 Results:
- Local control rates close to surgery (for small HCC)
- Few complications (rare bleeding, bile duct injury)
- Can be combined with TACE for larger tumors
💡 Takeaway:
Microwave ablation is a powerful, safe, and minimally invasive tool to fight early liver cancer — offering hope when surgery isn’t an option.