title: Transarterial chemoembolization vs. radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of single hepatocellular carcinoma 2 cm or smaller.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for treating small (≤2 cm) hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study consisted of 287 patients (mean age, 57.1 years; age range, 29-84 years; 221 men, 66 women; 73.5% with HBV; 100% with liver cirrhosis) with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer very early-stage HCC (≤2 cm single HCC) who were initially treated with TACE (n=122) or RFA (n=165). The primary study end point was overall patient survival. Secondary study end points were time to progression and tumor response.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The RFA and TACE groups were well balanced in terms of baseline variables. The two groups did not differ significantly in overall survival (P=0.079) or major complication (P>0.999) rates. The respective cumulative survival rates at 1, 3, 5, and 8 years were 97.6, 86.7, 74.5, and 60.0% for RFA and 93.4, 75.4, 63.1, and 51.1% for TACE. Their objective tumor regression (complete or partial response) rates were 100% (165/165) and 95.9% (117/122), respectively (P=0.013). The median times to progression for RFA and TACE were 27.0±3.8 (95% confidence intervals (CIs): 19.6-34.4) and 18.0±2.9 (95% CIs: 12.2-23.8) months, respectively. RFA yielded a significantly longer time to progression (P=0.034).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TACE may be a viable alternative treatment for ≤2 cm HCCs when RFA is not feasible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Hyoung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu-Bo
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Heung-Kyu
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Pyo Nyun
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Gi-Young
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Ki
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seng-Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Il
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Gwon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004998:Ethiodized Oil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005781:Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047368:Tumor Burden
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006490:Hemostatics; D004998:Ethiodized Oil