OBJECTIVETo seek a safe, efficient, and cost-effective technique for local thermo-ablation of hepatic cancer.

METHODSThe livers from 16 healthy rabbits were thermocoagulated by diode-laser with scanner fiber tip, 6 w for 10 mins. At the same time, the temperatures were measured at 0, 5 and 10 mm from laser tip. The pre-thermocoagulative liver function was compared with that of 7 days post-thermocoagulation. The pathologic changes were also observed 1 month after laser thermocoagulation.

RESULTSAll the rabbits survived and hepatic tissue temperatures at 0, 5, 10 mm from laser tip reached 96.39 degrees C +/- 3.97 degrees C, 60.79 degrees C +/- 6.21 degrees C, 46.10 degrees C +/- 4.58 degrees C respectively after 10 minutes of thermocoagulation. There were no significant differences in liver function parameters between rabbits of pre-laser thermocoagulation and of post-laser thermocoagulation. Thermocoagulated necrosis of liver tissue with surrounding fibrosis in a diameter of 26.0 mm was formed. Light microscopy revealed coagulative necrosis in the center of the coagulated area without surviving hepatic cells.

CONCLUSIONThe hepatic tissue can be coagulated safely and effectively by diode-laser with scanner fibertip, and such a technique may provide a new method for the treatment of hepatic carcinoma.