Percutaneous ultrasound‐guided microwave ablation for treatment of hepatocellular carcinomas in dogs: four cases (2019‐2020)

Objectives To describe ultrasound‐guided microwave ablation as a minimally invasive treatment option for primary or metastatic hepatocellular carcinomas. Methods Four client‐owned dogs underwent percutaneous ultrasound‐guided microwave ablation of three primary and one metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma, diagnosed on cytology/histopathology. In each case, multiple ultrasound‐guided thermal lesions were created in a 10 to 40 minutes ablation at 30 to 35 W. Real‐time monitoring was performed using 10 MHz diagnostic ultrasound transducers. The procedures were performed without complication and CT scans or abdominal ultrasounds were repeated immediately after. Patients were discharged on oral analgesia on the same day or 24 hours later. Results Hepatocellular carcinomas were successfully ablated, which in some cases resulted in an improvement in clinical signs and laboratory values. The patients were followed up for a time ranging between 39 and 649 days and no evidence of disease progression was found. Three out of four patients are still alive at the time of writing. Clinical Significance In these four patients, minimally invasive ultrasound‐guided microwave ablation was feasible and resulted in no immediate complications. Regular imaging follow‐up is recommended after the procedure and further studies on microwave ablation are warranted to establish its effectiveness in dogs with hepatocellular carcinomas.