Editorial
Copyright ©2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastrointest Surg. Jan 27, 2010; 2(1): 1-5
Published online Jan 27, 2010. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v2.i1.1
Thermal ablation for unresectable liver tumours, time to move forward?
Gianpiero Gravante
Gianpiero Gravante, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Leicester General Hospital, Gwendolen Road, Leicester LE5 4PW, United Kingdom
Author contributions: Gravante G solely contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Gianpiero Gravante, MD, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Leicester General Hospital, Gwendolen Road, Leicester LE5 4PW, United Kingdom. ggravante@hotmail.com
Telephone: +44-780-7453286 Fax: +39-6-233216592
Received: December 1, 2009
Revised: December 9, 2009
Accepted: December 16, 2009
Published online: January 27, 2010
Abstract

Even with the advent of laparoscopic techniques for liver tumours, classic resections still represent a major undertaking for numerous liver lesions. The avoidance of surgery using ablative techniques has been the aim for over 20 years. Large volumes can now be rapidly treated with low morbidity with the many technical developments and modifications of the delivery probes. Despite these advances recurrences rates remain high with all of the presently available techniques. The biological and pathophysiological basis underlying may help explain their limitations and are important in understanding where they may be appropriately applied and ways in which they may be improved in the future.

Keywords: Thermal ablation, Radiofrequency, Liver tumors, Microwaves, Cryotherapy, Tumor palliation