title: Survival analysis of high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation in patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation is a non-invasive treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). At present, data on the treatment's long-term outcome are limited. This study analysed the survival outcome of HIFU ablation for HCCs smaller than 3 cm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven patients with HCCs smaller than 3 cm received HIFU treatment between October 2006 and September 2010. Fifty-nine patients who received percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) were selected for comparison. The two groups of patients were compared in terms of pre-operative variables and survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More patients in the HIFU group patients had Child-Pugh B cirrhosis (34% versus 8.5%; P = 0.001). The 1- and 3-year overall survival rates of patients whose tumours were completely ablated in the HIFU group compared with the RFA group were 97.4% versus 94.6% and 81.2% versus 79.8%, respectively (P = 0.530). The corresponding 1- and 3-year disease-free survival rates were 63.6% versus 62.4% and 25.9% versus 34.1% (P = 0.683).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HIFU ablation is a safe and effective method for small HCCs. It can achieve survival outcomes comparable to those of percutaneous RFA and thus serves as a good alternative ablation treatment for patients with cirrhosis.
authors: Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. tantocheung@hotmail.com
authors: Tan To
authors: TT
authors: Cheung
authors: Sheung Tat
authors: ST
authors: Fan
authors: Ferdinand S K
authors: FS
authors: Chu
authors: Caroline R
authors: CR
authors: Jenkins
authors: Kenneth S H
authors: KS
authors: Chok
authors: Simon H Y
authors: SH
authors: Tsang
authors: Wing Chiu
authors: WC
authors: Dai
authors: Albert C Y
authors: AC
authors: Chan
authors: See Ching
authors: SC
authors: Chan
authors: Thomas C C
authors: TC
authors: Yau
authors: Ronnie T P
authors: RT
authors: Poon
authors: Chung Mau
authors: CM
authors: Lo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D057086:High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047368:Tumor Burden; D055815:Young Adult