title: Single HCC between 2 and 5 cm: the grey zone: hepatologist's perspective.
abstract: Long term survival of single nodular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) measuring 2-5 cm in size treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was compared between 157 HCCs treated with RFA and 89 HCCs treated by operation. The 5 year survival rate was not significantly different between RFA and operation. In addition, the 17th nationwide survey of the Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan clearly showed that 5 year survival rate in 858 HCCs measuring 2-5 cm in size treated with RFA was similar to that in 6,574 HCCs measuring 2-5 cm in size treated by operation. In conclusion, RFA achieves outcomes similar to those of operation for Child-Pugh A patients with HCCs measuring 2-5 cm in size.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-Higashi, Osakasayama, Osaka, Japan. m-kudo@med.kindai.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: Hobyung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome