Clinical effectiveness of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization sequential microwave ablation for lack of blood supply in hepatocellular carcinoma.

To determine the effectiveness and safety of sequential computed tomography-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hypovascular liver lesions <5 cm in size. The clinical data of 69 hypovascular hepatocellular carcinoma lesions <5 cm in 60 patients treated with TACE followed by MWA were retrospectively analyzed. There was no significant difference in AFP levels among AFP-positive patients before and after TACE (p = 0.515), but levels were significantly lower 1 month after MWA than before MWA (p = 0.039). Compared with 1 month after TACE, the objective response rate (p < 0.001) and disease control rate (p = 0.004) were increased 1 month after MWA. Any adverse events were well tolerated, and the albumin bilirubin score did not deteriorate within 4 weeks. Sequential MWA after TACE was found to be safe and effective for treating hypovascular hepatocellular carcinoma for lesions <5 cm in size.