Table 2.
Studies examining microwave ablation (MWA) for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
| MWA | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Author (Year) | Study Type and Time Period | Patient Population | Technique | Outcomes | Complications |
| Single Cohorts | |||||
| Wang (2022) [33] | Retrospective Study 02/2012–12/2020 |
N = 29 Mean 56.34 y/o Untreated ICC Tumor size 0.5–8.1 cm |
Percutaneous US-guided MWA | Median PFS = 18.43 mo Median OS = 18.43 mo |
|
| Kim-Fuchs (2021) [35] | Systematic Review and Retrospective Study 2019–2021 |
Primary ICC N = 5 Recurrent ICC N = 5 Mean 58.1 y/o Primary and recurrent ICC Tumor size 0.6–3.2 cm |
Stereotactic MWA | OS Primary ICC = 6–31.5 mo, all patients still living OS Recurrent ICC = 1–20 mo, 2 patients still living |
Dindo IIIa+: 10% |
| Yang (2021) [36] | Retrospective Study 04/2011–03/2018 |
N = 55 Mean 59.6 y/o Untreated ICC Tumor size 0.8–5 cm |
Percutaneous US-guided MWA | 1, 3, 5 yr OS: 87.4%, 51.4%, 35.2% 1, 3, 5 yr RFS: 68.9%, 56.9%, 56.9% |
Major = 3.8% |
| Ni (2019) [39] | Retrospective Study 04/2011–03/2018 |
N = 78 Mean 59.6 y/o Early-stage, unresectable, and untreated ICC Tumor size < 5 cm |
Percutaneous CT-guided MWA | 1, 3, 5 yr OS: 89.5%, 52.2%, 35.0% 1, 3, 5 yr RFS: 78.9%, 19.9%, 0% |
Major = 3.8% Minor = 29.5% |
| Zhang (2018) [41] | Retrospective Study 01/2009–02/2016 |
N = 107 Mean 58 y/o Primary and recurrent ICC Tumor size < 5 cm |
Percutaneous US-guided MWA | Median OS = 28.0 mo Median PFS = 8.9 mo |
Major = 2.8% |
| Yang (2015) [42] | Retrospective Study 01/2011–12/2014 |
N = 26 Mean 57.9 y/o Primary unresectable and recurrent ICC Tumor size 2.5–6.5 cm |
Percutaneous US-guided MWA + TACE | Median OS = 19.5 mo Median PFS = 6.2 mo |
Major = 0% |
| Xu (2012) [25] | Retrospective Study 10/1998–08/2010 |
MWA or RFA N = 18 Mean 60.0 y/o Primary and recurrent ICC after SR Tumor size 0.7–6.9 cm |
Percutaneous US-guided MWA or RFA | Median OS = 8.8 mo Median RFS = 4.0 mo |
Major = 5.5% |
| Yu (2011) [44] | Retrospective Study 05/2006–03/2010 |
N = 15 Mean 57.4 y/o Unresectable ICC Tumor size 1.3–9.9 cm |
Percutaneous US-guided MWA | Median OS = 10 mo | Major = 20% |
| Comparative Cohorts | |||||
| Ge (2020) [37] | Retrospective Cohort Study 05/2008–12/2015 |
PMCT N = 92 TACE N = 183 Median 55 y/o Recurrent unresectable ICC Included tumors > 5 cm |
US-guided PMCT vs. TACE | OS TACE > PMCT (p = 0.041) RFS TACE > PMCT (p = 0.047) |
|
| Giorgio (2019) [38] | Retrospective Cohort Study 01/2008–06/2018 |
MWA N = 35 RFA N = 36 Mean age MWA, RFA = 72, 75 y/o Unresectable ICC Tumor size 2.2–7.2 cm |
Percutaneous US-guided MWA vs. RFA | OS MWA > RFA (p < 0.005) PFS MWA > RFA (p < 0.005) |
Major = 0% |
| Xu (2019) [40] | Retrospective Cohort Study 04/2011–01/2017 |
MWA N = 56 SR N = 65 Mean age MWA, SR = 54.5, 53.9 y/o Recurrent ICC after initial SR Tumor size 0.8–5 cm |
Percutaneous US-guided MWA vs. SR | Median OS MWA = 31.3 mo Median OS SR = 29.4 mo 1, 3, 5 yr OS: MWA = 81.2%, 42.5%, 23.7% SR = 77.4%, 36.4%, 21.8% (p = 0.405) |
Major MWA = 5.3% Major SR = 13.8% p < 0.001 |
| Takahashi (2018) [26] | Retrospective Study 2006–2015 |
MWA N = 6 RFA N = 44 Mean 62.5 y/o Primary, locally recurrent, and metastatic ICC Mean tumor size = 1.8 cm |
Percutaneous US or CT-guided MWA or RFA | Median OS = 23.6 mo Median DFS = 8.2 mo |
Major = 0% |
| Zhang (2013) [43] | Retrospective Cohort Study 01/2007–12/2011 |
MWA or RFA N = 77 Repeated SR N = 32 Recurrent ICC after SR Tumor size < 5 cm |
MWA or RFA vs. repeated SR | Median OS: MWA or RFA = 21.3 mo Repeated SR = 20.3 mo (p= 0.996) |
Major MWA or RFA = 3.9% Major SR = 46.9% p < 0.001 |
| Yan (2022) [34] | Retrospective Cohort Study 01/2010–12/2018 |
MWA or RFA +ChT N = 55 ChT alone N = 134 Unresectable and untreated ICC Included tumors > 5 cm |
RFA or MWA + ChT vs. ChT alone | Median OS: RFA or MWA + ChT = 15.23 mo ChT alone = 7.97 mo p = 0.009 |
|
Abbreviations: ChT = chemotherapy; CT = computed tomography; DFS = disease-free survival; ICC = intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma; mo = month; MWA = microwave ablation; ND = no difference; OS = overall survival; PFS = progression-free survival; PMCT = percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy; RFA = radiofrequency ablation; RFS = recurrence-free survival; SR = surgical resection; TACE = transarterial chemoembolization; US = ultrasound; yr = year; y/o = years old.