Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2015 Jan;141(1):1-9.
doi: 10.1007/s00432-014-1708-1. Epub 2014 Jun 3.

Efficacy and safety of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation versus surgical resection for small hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis of 23 studies

Qian Feng  1 , Yugang Chi, Yanqian Liu, Ling Zhang, Qi Liu
Affiliations
Review

Efficacy and safety of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation versus surgical resection for small hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis of 23 studies

Qian Feng et al. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2015 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of our meta-analysis was to compare the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) versus surgical resection for patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (SHCC).

Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or retrospective studies comparing the RFA with surgical resection for patients with SHCC published from 2004 to 2014 were selected from database of PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane library. The outcomes including overall survival rate, recurrence-free survival rate, recurrence rate and complications (mortality rate and morbidity rate) were abstracted. Individual and pooled odds ratio with 95% confidence interval of each outcome was analyzed.

Results: Three RCTs and twenty retrospective studies were included with a total of 15,482 patients. The 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival rate and recurrence-free survival rate of surgical resection were significantly higher than RFA. The 2- and 3-year but not 1-year recurrence rate of RFA was significantly higher than surgical resection. The morbidity rate of complication in surgical resection group was higher than it in RFA group, but the mortality was not different between the two groups.

Conclusion: Surgical resection led to a higher overall survival and recurrence-free survival rate in treating SHCC. However, RFA led to a lower morbidity rate of complication than surgical resection.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram for identification of relevant clinical designs examining effect of RFA or surgical resection on the treatment of SHCC
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The results of meta-analysis about 1-year overall survival rate. M–H Mantel–Haenszel test, RFA radiofrequency ablation
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The results of meta-analysis about 1-year recurrence-free survival rate
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The results of meta-analysis about 1-year recurrence rate
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
The results of meta-analysis about morbidity rate
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
The funnel plot of 1-year overall survival rate. SE Standard error
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Abu-Hilal M, Primrose JN, Casaril A, McPhail MJ, Pearce NW, Nicoli N (2008) Surgical resection versus radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of small unifocal hepatocellular carcinoma. J Gastrointest Surg 12:1521–1526 - PubMed
    1. Chen MS, Li JQ, Zheng Y, Guo RP, Liang HH, Zhang YQ, Lin XJ, Lau WY (2006) A prospective randomized trial comparing percutaneous local ablative therapy and partial hepatectomy for small hepatocellular carcinoma. Ann Surg 243:321–328 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Cho YK, Rhim H, Noh S (2011) Radiofrequency ablation versus surgical resection as primary treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma meeting the Milan criteria: a systematic review. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 26:1354–1360 - PubMed
    1. Desiderio J, Trastulli S, Pasquale R, Cavaliere D, Cirocchi R, Boselli C, Noya G, Parisi A (2013) Could radiofrequency ablation replace liver resection for small hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with compensated cirrhosis? A 5-year follow-up. Langenbeck’s Arch Surg/Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Chirurgie 398:55–62 - PubMed
    1. Duffy JP, Hiatt JR, Busuttil RW (2008) Surgical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer J 14:100–110 - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources