Nanoknife to kill liver cancer

BANGKOK, June 21 (TNA) -- A leading Thai hospital has introduced the “nanoknife” to treat liver cancer in Thailand, saving patients from having to seek such expensive treatment abroad. Executives of Siriraj Hospital introduced the equipment to the press on June 20, saying the technique suited the treatment of tumors with up to five centimeters in diameter. The nanoknife resembles a needle that transmits 3,000-volt electric currents to kill cancer cells while blood vessels and tissues are spared. Assoc Prof Dr Trongtham Thongdee, head of diagnostic radiology, said nanoknives had been used in the United States and Siriraj Hospital had applied them to treat 20 patients, 93.7% of whom suffered no side effects. Nanoknives suited the cancer that was inoperable and was not spreading, he said. Dr Somraj Thamtharawat of the diagnostic radiology department said tumors had to be located precisely with computerized tomography scans and ultrasound examination before an operation with 2-6 nanoknives. He admitted that the nanoknife operation was expensive. Prof Dr Prasit Watanapa, dean of the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, said the hospital had a project to also provide poor patients with high-technology and expensive treatments in honor of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. (TNA)