Chinese Surgeons Perform First In-Utero Microwave Tumour Ablation

The procedure, performed by specialists from Shenzhen Baoan Women's and Children's Hospital and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, addressed a severe case of congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM). At 22 weeks, the fetus exhibited a mass composed of dense cysts, which had triggered ascites—a dangerous accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. Traditional drainage or open fetal surgery proved unsuitable because the growth lacked a central vessel for standard targeting.

Guided by high-resolution ultrasound, surgeons inserted a needle through the maternal abdomen into the fetal chest. Over two minutes, microwave energy destroyed the abnormal tissue from within. The results were immediate: within three days, the tumour shrank and the fluid build-up resolved. The baby was delivered at 37 weeks via Caesarean section, weighing 2.9 kg with a perfect Apgar score of 10. Now four months old, the infant remains healthy and symptom-free. While the medical team views this as a significant milestone, they emphasize that further research is required to establish the procedure as a standard clinical practice for rare fetal complications.