Treatment of liver cancer by electrochemical therapy under CT guidance

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect of CT-guided electrochemical therapy (EChT) for the treatment of liver cancer. Methods: Sixty-seven patients of liver cancer were treated with EChT under CT guidance. Platinum electrodes were inserted accurately into the tumor mass, with anodes in the tumor center and cathodes at the periphery. Distance between two electrodes was 2.0-3.0 cm. 80-100 C was used for treating per centimeter diameter of tumor mass. Voltage was 6-10 V, and electric current was 60-100 ma. According to the diameters of the tumors, 67 cases were divided into three groups, group A: diameter no more than 3 cm (24 cases); group B: 3-8 cm (31 cases); group C: over 8 cm (12 cases). One to three year survival rates of the three groups were observed respectively. Results: There was an inverse relationship between tumor size and curative effect. One to three year survival rates of group A were 91.67%, 87.50%, 70.83%, respectively; group B were 70.97%, 48.39%, 29.03%, respectively; group C were 50.00%, 25.00%, 8.33%, respectively. Conclusion: CT-guided EChT is simple, safe, effective, and less traumatic i treating the liver cancer, especially in treating the small or middle-sized liver cancers. It also provides an alternative method for those patients who are conventionally inoperable or not responsive to chemotherapy