Background:In surgery involving brain tumors, the use of new tools or equipment that allows for better results and improvement in the quality of life of the patients is mandatory. Microwave ablation (MWA) is a technique that has been used effectively since 1994 in the management of different kinds of tumors. The authors present their surgical experience with 23 cases of brain and skull-base tumors using MWA technique.Methods:In all, 23 cases diagnosed with brain and skull-base tumors are described; all of these were treated with MWA as unique technique as a complement to conventional microsurgical tumor resection. In all cases, ultrasound imaging guidance was used. A thin antenna (caliber 14.5; MedWaves) was positioned through ultrasound images to a central intratumoral area, and then energy was applied for 1–3 min until the temperature sensor in the proximal position of the antenna reached 80–100°C. Through transoperative Doppler ultrasound images and surgical microscopy, changes in the generated ablation were observed. The said ablation led to a decrease in intratumoral blood flow, and the adjacent vascular and cerebral structures were preserved.Results:The application of MWA during brain surgery was regarded as safe in all cases, as no permanent additional neurological deficit was detected. Intratumoral vascular flow was also reduced and tumor resection was facilitated. Likewise, a reduction in tumor volume was noted, and in others in whom the ablation was applied as a single therapy, a progressive destruction of the tumor was observed.Conclusion:MWA can be a useful tool as a single therapy or as a complement to conventional techniques for the surgical resection of brain and skull-base tumors. It was a safe method in all cases, producing a decrease in intratumoral blood flow, and this procedure facilitates the microsurgical resection of the lesion.

Background: Plasma cell neoplasms are characterized by the neoplastic proliferation of a single clone of plasma cells. Solitary plasmacytomas most often occur in bone, but they can also be found in soft tissues. Case Description: A 53-year-old male presented with localized sacral pain and urinary incontinence. His radiographic studies showed a solitary sacral plasmacytoma (i.e., involving the bone). He was successfully managed with high-dose dexamethasone and microwave ablation (MWA). Conclusion: Plasmacytomas of bone can be occasionally successfully managed with MWA, adjuvant cytoreduction therapy, and high doses of dexamethasone.

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Background: Angiolipomas are benign mesenchymal tumors that infrequently affect the head-and-neck region and can appear with infiltrating and non-infiltrating forms. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice; however, there are other alternatives to manage this condition whose consideration is quite useful to evaluate per each particular case. Case Description: An 11-year-old girl was diagnosed with non-infiltrating angiolipoma in the subtemporal region, the zygomatic, and pterygomaxillary fossa; she had a history of having undergone surgery on two previous occasions with a failed resection attempt due to the high vascularization of the injury and significant transoperative bleeding. The condition was managed with minimally invasive techniques through microwave ablation, requiring two sessions, achieving very satisfactory results both esthetically and in the final size of the lesion. Conclusion: The microwave ablation technique may turn out to be a very useful tool for the management of lesions with high vascularization such as angiolipoma. This technique offers a new possibility for initial management, both independent of and complementary to other management techniques for other lesions at the base of the skull and/or facial massif regions.

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