Percutaneous microwave ablation vs radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Table 1 Comparison of radiofrequency over microwave ablation methods

RFA	MWA
Electric current	Electromagnetic energy
Grounding pads (risk of burns due to ground pads)	No grounding pads (no risk of burns)
Tissue charring and boiling cause increase of impedance that reduce electrical and thermal conductivity	Rapid and homogeneous heating + ionic polarization
Lower intratumoral temperatures	Higher intratumoral temperatures
More peri-procedural pain	Less peri-procedural pain
Unpredictable ablation zone	More predictable ablation zone
Heat-sink effect	Less susceptible to heat-sink effect
Single lesion can be treated	Simultaneous treatment of multiple lesions
More procedural time	Shorter procedural time
Less ablation volume	Larger ablation volume
Similar complications and complication rate
Surgical clips or pacemaker are contraindications	Surgical clips or a pacemaker not a contraindication

RFA: Radiofrequency; MWA: Microwave ablation.