Laparoscopic microwave coagulation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Several different effective forms of treatment are available, singly or in combination, for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). These include surgical resection, transcatheter arterial embolization, percutaneous ethanol injection, and percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy. In this study, we carried out laparoscopic microwave coagulation therapy (LMCT), using laparoscopic microwave electrodes to treat HCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Under local anesthesia, 24 patients with HCCs located on or near the liver surface underwent LMCT under direct laparoscopic vision, with ultrasound guidance. LMCT was performed using microwave electrodes with tips ranging from 15-45 mm in length, and the effectiveness of the treatment was confirmed using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) within two weeks of the LMCT procedure. RESULTS: The mean longest axis of the 26 HCC nodules in 24 patients was 20 mm, and that of the coagulated areas including the nodules was 40 mm, with additional therapy being required in two patients. Complete efficacy of the treatment was observed in 21 patients (87.5%), but local recurrences were seen in three of them one year after LMCT. The three-year survival rate was 92%, but the number of patients included in the study was small. Hemostasis was complete, but mild pneumothorax occurred in three patients. CONCLUSIONS: LMCT under local anesthesia is a minimally invasive and effective therapy when carried out on a single occasion to treat HCCs located near the liver surface, and it can be safely performed under direct visual guidance.

Anisakiasis of the colon: radiologic and endoscopic features in six patients.

The radiologic and endoscopic findings in six patients with anisakiasis of the colon were analyzed. The diagnosis was based on the demonstration of Anisakis larvae at radiography or on elevated serum levels of antibodies to this parasite. All patients reported abdominal symptoms 12-23 hours after the ingestion of raw fish. Double-contrast barium enema examination, performed 2-4 days after the onset of syptoms in all the patients, revealed that the right side of the colon was frequently affected by edema, which was radiographically demonstrated as luminal narrowing and thumbprinting. In addition, the worm was shown at radiography in four patients. Colonoscopy, performed 1-7 days after the onset of symptoms, revealed edematous mucosa, characterized by narrowing and multiple smooth and round protrusions, in all four of the patients studied, but it failed to demonstrate the worm in any patient. The authors believe that the demonstration of these features, together with a history of raw fish ingestion, is essential for the diagnosis of this disorder.