Radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate survival and recurrence after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using a meta-analysis.


METHODS
Literature on RFA vs surgical resection for the treatment of small HCC published between January 1990 and December 2008 was retrieved. A meta-analysis was conducted to estimate pooled survival and recurrence ratios. A fixed or random effect model was established to collect the data.


RESULTS
The differences in overall survival at 1-year, 3-years and at end of follow-up were not statistically significant between the RFA and surgery groups (P > 0.05). There were no differences in 1-year and 3-year recurrences between the RFA and surgery groups (P > 0.05). However, recurrence in the RFA group was lower than that in the surgery group up to the end of follow-up (P = 0.03). Survival was not significantly different. There was a significant difference in recurrences at the end of follow-up after RFA compared with surgical resection.


CONCLUSIONS
RFA did not decrease the number of overall recurrences, and had no effect on survival when compared with surgical resection in a selected group of patients.
Liu
Jun-Guo
JG
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Third Central Hospital, Tianjin 300170, China.
Wang
Yi-Jun
YJ
Du
Zhi
Z
D015982:Bias; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome