Comparison between percutaneous and laparoscopic microwave ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma

Figures & data

Figure 1. Kaplan–Meier curve for local tumor progression-free survival according to technical approach.

Figure 2. Kaplan–Meier curve for local tumor progression-free survival according to tumor location.

Figure 3. Kaplan–Meier curve for local tumor progression-free survival according to tumor location in the PMWA subgroup.

Table 1. Patient characteristics.

Variables	PMWA (N = 63)	LMWA (N = 28)	p
Gender
Male	46 (73%)	22 (78.6%)
Female	17 (27%)	6 (21.4%)	.57
Age (years) >65	53 (84.13%)	21 (75%)	.3
Previous HCC treatment	40 (63.5%)	7 (25%)	<.001
Anesthesia technique
Deep sedation	34 (54%)	/
General anesthesia	29 (46%)	28 (100%)	<.0001
Child-pugh class
A	58 (92.1%)	24 (85.7%)
B	5 (7.9%)	4 (14.3%)	.35
Etiology of cirrhosis
Alcoholic	15 (23.8%)	7 (25%)	.9
Viral	37 (58.7%)	12 (42.9%)	.16
Mixed	3 (1.6%)	0 (0%)	.9
Idiopathic	7 (11.1%)	9 (32.1%)	.015
Hepatitis B	14 (22.2%)	5 (17.9%)	.6
Hepatitis C	31 (49.2%)	7 (25%)	.03
BCLC stage
0	13 (20.6%)	6 (21.4%)	.93
A1	33 (52.4%)	6 (21.4%)	.006
A2	5 (8%)	0 (0%)	.3
A3	4 (6.3%)	1 (3.6%)	.6
A4	8 (12.7%)	15 (53.6%)	.00004
Lesion number
Single tumor	55 (87.3%)	13 (46.4%)
Multifocal disease	8 (12.7%)	15 (53.6%)	.00004

Bold text implies p<.05.

Table 2. Tumor characteristics.

Variables	PMWA (N = 67)	LMWA (N = 35)	p
Size (mm)^a	18.3 ± 6.2 (9–33)	19 ± 9.9 (10–41)	.56^b
Amount of delivered energy (W × s/mm)^a	1329.9 ± 405.6	1616.4 ± 548	.033^b
Size (>2 cm)	21 (31.3%)	9 (25.7%)	.55^c
Size (>3 cm)	6 (9%)	5 (14.3%)	.41^c
Subcapsular location	40 (59.7%)	23 (65.7%)	.55^c
Proximity to high-risk areas	25 (37.3%)	13 (37.1%)	.99^c
Proximity to vessels >3 mm	10 (14.9%)	10 (28.6%)	.1^c

Bold text implies p<.05.

^aValues expressed as mean ± SD (min–max).

^bMann–Whitney U-test.

^cPearson χ² test between group.

Table 3. LTPFS univariate cox regression analysis according to subgroups based on technique.

Variable	PMWA (n = 57)			LMWA (=26)
	HR	95% CI	p	HR	95% CI	p
Amount of delivered energy (W × s/mm)	0.001	0.998–1.001	0.47	0.999	0.996–1.002	.59
Size	0.945	0.846–1.056	0.32	1.103	0.969–1.256	.14
Size >2 cm	2.056	0.443–9.533	0.36	0.413	0.026–6.62	.53
Subcapsular	5.05	1.464–17.142	0.01	1.179	0.071–19.64	.9
Proximity to vessels >3 mm	0.031	0.089–11.194	0.25	0.272	0.017–4.414	.36
Proximity to high-risk areas	0.971	0.307–3.072	0.96	0.017	0–1479.7	.48
Multifocal disease	0.682	0.179–2.591	0.57	1.242	0.078–19.867	.88
Child B	0.181	0.037–0.884	0.035	0.042	0–1350.8	.75
BCLC stage	0.876	0.546–1.406	0.58	0.972	0.442–2.141	.95
Previous HCC	0.849	0.248–2.9	0.79	0.001	0–1*10^4	.524
Etiology of hepatitis	1.005	0.473–2.137	0.9	1.862	0.281–12.364	.52
Hepatitis C	1.178	0.356–3.894	0.79	0.354	0.022–5.659	.46
Hepatitis B	0.736	0.192–2.823	0.66	0.152	0.009–2.581	.19

Bold text implies p<.05.

Table 4. LTPFS multivariate cox regression analysis (n = 83).

Variable	HR	95% CI	p
Technical approach	2.771	0.584–13.583	.2
Subcapsular tumors	4.727	1.47–15.2	.009
Size	1.025	0.936–1.122	.59
Amount of delivered energy (W × s/mm)	0.999	0.998–1.001	.366

Table 5. LTPFS univariate cox regression analysis of technique on specific variables’ subgroups.

Variable	Total (n = 83)			Subcapsular tumors (n = 35)			Proximity to vessels >3 mm (n = 15)			Proximity to high-risk areas (n = 37)			Size >2 cm (n = 25)
	HR	95%CI	p	HR	95%CI	p	HR	95%CI	p	HR	95%CI	p	HR	95%CI	p
Technical approach	2.320	0.512–10.504	.28	4.483	0.545–36.892	.16	2.25	0.1 × 10^4	.59	1.006	0.184–5.505	.994	0.734	0.066–8.104	.8

Table 6. Results of Mann–Whitney U-test for amount of delivered energy per tumor size according to technique in subcapsular tumors.

Subcapsular tumors (n = 35)	PMWA (N = 25)	LMWA (N = 10)	Z	p
	Mean (SD)	Mean (SD)
Amount of delivered energy (W × s/mm)	1281 (462.5)	1821.7 (651.35)	−2.27	.023