Efficacy of radiofrequency ablation compared with transarterial chemoembolization for the treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma: a comparative survival analysis

Abstract

RFA and TACE may be equally effective for intrahepatic recurrence after hepatectomy when the tumour size is ≤ 5 cm and ≤ 3 lesions when re-resection or salvage transplantation is not considered feasible.

Huge hepatocellular carcinoma greater than 10 cm in diameter worsens prognosis by causing distant recurrence after curative resection

“…Recent advancements in locoregional treatments, such as repeated hepatectomy, RFA and TACE, improved the control of the intrahepatic recurrence and prognosis [21,22]. Conversely, extra-hepatic metastasis has been difficult to control.…”

Meta-analysis of determinants of survival following treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma

“…Sun and colleagues 23 described a population of patients with recurrent HCC in the presence of HBV infection, and so all included patients were HBV-positive. The prevalence of HCV ranged from 0 per cent 14 to 89 per cent 21 ; again, no immediately apparent reasons could be ascertained for this variation in rate of infection.…”

“…Ho et al 8 OS ≥ 5 versus < 5 cm: HR 1⋅11 (1⋅01, 1⋅22)* Umeda et al 19 OS > 3 versus ≤ 3 cm: HR 4⋅01 (1⋅28, 12⋅7)* Huang et al 17 DFS ≥ 5 versus < 5 cm: HR 2⋅26 (1⋅30, 3⋅95) † AFP Koh et al 14…”

Radiofrequency ablation using a 10‐mm target margin for small hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with liver cirrhosis: A prospective randomized trial

“…35,36 Meanwhile, RFA combined with transarterial chemoembolization was found to provide more extensive ablation effects (vs standard processes), which may be useful for managing HCCs with contiguous vessels. 37,38 Improvements in imaging techniques allow for more precise measurement of the ablative margin.…”