[Medical Q&A] Is surgery necessary for liver cancer? The "new world" of ultrasound-guided interventional therapy?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Wang Yandong, Chief Physician, Tianjin Third Central Hospital

Liver cancer is a malignant tumor that originates from liver cells. Many people believe that if they have liver cancer, it would be best if they could have it surgically removed, but this is not true. There are many ways to treat liver cancer. Doctors will determine the treatment plan based on factors such as the type and stage of liver cancer, the results of various examinations, the patient's physical condition and needs, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and traditional Chinese medicine. At present, ultrasound-guided interventional therapy has an increasingly wide range of applications due to its unique advantages, especially for liver cancer patients who are not suitable for surgical treatment. It is like opening the door to a "new world" in the field of treatment, bringing good news to liver cancer patients.

Under real-time ultrasound monitoring, treatment devices or drugs can be delivered directly to the tumor site through puncture technology to achieve the treatment goal. There are many types of ultrasound treatment techniques. For example, using ultrasound guidance, radiofrequency electrodes or microwave antennas can be inserted into the tumor, and the heat generated by high-frequency current causes tumor tissue necrosis. This is "radiofrequency ablation" or "microwave ablation." Compared with traditional surgery, ultrasound-guided interventional treatment of liver cancer has higher accuracy and effectiveness, and is less traumatic to patients, and patients recover faster. It is especially suitable for some small tumors that cannot be surgically removed or tumors in deeper locations. Of course, not all liver cancer patients are suitable for ultrasound-guided interventional treatment. This requires doctors to decide based on the specific circumstances of the patient.