Microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) for liver metastasis and local recurrence of rectal cancer

A 59-year-old man was operated on with abdominoperineal exsion for rectal cancer. A single liver metastsis, pulmonary metastses and local recurrence of rectal cancer were detected postoperatively. Microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) was performed to the liver metastsis 8 cm in diameter. In the prone position on the CT table under epidural anesthesia, the local recurrence with invasion upon the prostata was coagulated 80 W for 30-45 seconds 7 times with microwave tissue coagulator 1 year after the operation. Area of the coagulated tissue including a part of the prostata invaded by the tumor was about 50% of the local recurrence on the CT images.There was evidence of relapse of the local recurrence after the therapy because complete coagulation was not obtained.Through this case, we report the effect and limitation of the CT guided MCT for local recurrence of rectal cancer.