The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in the ablation effects of percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT), percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT), and radiofrequency (RF) ablation therapy in extracted bovid livers, and to assess the appropriate therapeutic method for treating hepatic tumors according to their shape, size and location.

PEIT, PMCT and RF ablation were performed at 1 cm and 5 cm depth in bovid livers. PEIT was performed with 1, 2, 3 and 4 ml of ethanol, PMCT with 60 watt for a 30 th, 60 th and 120 th of a second, and RF ablation for 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 minutes. Ultrasonography was used for the detection of the tissue necrosis that followed the different therapeutic modalities.

For PEIT, the extent of the necrosis was smaller than that of the other modalities. For PMCT, the necrosis was elliptical and longer in length. For RF, the necrosis was oval and larger in size. At 1 cm depth for PMCT and RF ablation, the liver capsule was injured.

We concluded that these different findings in tissue necrosis would aid in selecting the appropriate therapeutic method for hepatic tumors according to the tumors' shape, size and location.