title: Comparing the outcomes of radiofrequency ablation and surgery in patients with a single small hepatocellular carcinoma and well-preserved hepatic function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and surgical resection in a group of patients with a Child-Pugh score of 5 and a single HCC less than 4 cm in diameter.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has become a popular method for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and has been applied as an alternative primary therapy to surgical resection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared outcomes for 148 patients treated with RFA (n = 55) and those treated surgically (n = 93).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of local recurrence among patients in the RFA group was significantly higher than in the surgery group (P = 0.005), while the incidence of remote recurrence was similar between the two groups (P = 0.30). The cumulative 1- and 3-year overall survival rates (P = 0.24) and the cumulative 1- and 3-year recurrence-free survival rates (P = 0.54) were not significantly different between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite a higher rate of local recurrence, RFA was found to be as effective as surgical resection for the treatment of single small HCC in patients with well-preserved liver function, in terms of the incidence of remote recurrence and the patients' likelihood of achieving overall and/or recurrence-free survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-710, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Noh
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Sun-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Moon Seok
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Joon Hyeok
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwang Cheol
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Seung Woon
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Paik
authors.forename: Byung Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Jong Chul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Dongil
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hyo Keun
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Kwang-Woong
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Joh
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged