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Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of Ultrasound-Guided Microwave Ablation for Hepatic Metastatic Nodules
Sponsor: Assiut University
Summary
The liver is one of the most common organs where cancer cells spread (metastasize) from other parts of the body, especially from gastrointestinal cancers such as colorectal cancer. While surgical removal of liver tumors has traditionally been the standard treatment, most patients are not candidates for surgery due to tumor location, number of lesions, or underlying liver function. For these individuals, minimally invasive local therapies such as microwave ablation (MWA) provide an alternative approach to eradicate tumor tissue while preserving healthy liver parenchyma. Microwave ablation delivers localized high-frequency electromagnetic energy through a thin needle antenna placed percutaneously into the liver tumor. The generated heat induces rapid coagulative necrosis, destroying cancer cells within the target area. In this study, real-time ultrasound combined with CT image-fusion navigation is used to precisely position the ablation antenna within each nodule. The primary purpose of this study is to assess the therapeutic efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation for patients with liver metastases. Participants receive microwave ablation for their target liver tumors and are evaluated with contrast-enhanced CT or MRI at 1 month post-procedure to determine the rate of complete tumor ablation. Patients are then monitored longitudinally at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months to evaluate safety and check for local tumor recurrence.
Official title: Evaluation of Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of Ultrasound-Guided Microwave Ablation for Hepatic Metastatic Nodules
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
30
Start Date
2026-11
Completion Date
2027-12
Last Updated
2026-10-13
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Ultrasound-Guided Microwave Ablation
Percutaneous thermal ablation targeting hepatic metastatic nodules using the MaxBlate® Microwave Ablation System operating at a generator frequency of 2450 MHz with internally water-cooled antennas (15G or 16G, shaft length 100-300 mm). Puncture and antenna placement are guided by real-time transabdominal ultrasound paired with pre-acquired contrast-enhanced CT image-fusion software. Thermal energy is delivered at 50 W to 100 W for 5 to 10 minutes per ablation cycle to produce coagulative necrosis encompassing the lesion and an ablative margin.