{"entity":{"id":"microwave-ablation","kind":"term","name":"Microwave ablation (MWA)","aka":["microwave","MWA"],"tldr":"Like radiofrequency ablation but using microwaves, which heat faster and larger volumes and are less affected by nearby blood vessels.","summary":"Microwave antennas create larger, more predictable ablation zones than RFA in a shorter time and are less prone to the heat-sink effect, so they are increasingly preferred for liver tumours up to 4-5 cm and lung metastases. Randomised comparisons with RFA in hepatocellular carcinoma show equal or better local control. Both are percutaneous, done under CT or ultrasound guidance, usually as a day case.","asOf":"2026-09-09","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microwave_ablation","links":[{"label":"Wikipedia","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microwave_ablation"}],"tags":[],"related":["radiofrequency-ablation","cryoablation"],"cancers":["hcc","colorectal"],"sections":["surgery"],"technologies":["thermal-ablation"],"targets":[],"drugs":[],"companies":[],"institutions":[],"pathways":[],"terms":[],"trials":[],"people":[],"bottlenecks":[],"keyPapers":[],"journals":[],"dependsOn":[],"notes":[],"category":"Procedures"},"route":"/terms/microwave-ablation/","neighbours":{"term":[{"id":"cryoablation","kind":"term","name":"Cryoablation","route":"/terms/cryoablation/"},{"id":"radiofrequency-ablation","kind":"term","name":"Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)","route":"/terms/radiofrequency-ablation/"}],"cancer":[{"id":"colorectal","kind":"cancer","name":"Colorectal cancer","route":"/cancers/colorectal/"},{"id":"hcc-early","kind":"cancer","name":"Early hepatocellular carcinoma (BCLC 0 and A)","route":"/cancers/hcc-early/"},{"id":"hcc","kind":"cancer","name":"Hepatocellular carcinoma","route":"/cancers/hcc/"}],"section":[{"id":"surgery","kind":"section","name":"Surgery & Interventional","route":"/fronts/surgery/"}],"technology":[{"id":"thermal-ablation","kind":"technology","name":"Thermal ablation (RFA, microwave, cryo)","route":"/technologies/thermal-ablation/"}]}}