title: Comparative analysis of Laparoscopic versus open surgical radiofrequency ablation for malignant liver tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of two surgical approaches on the treatment outcomes of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for malignant liver tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-seven patients with malignant liver tumors, hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma and liver metastases, who were candidates for RFA, underwent laparoscopic or open surgical treatments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients' characteristics were comparable in the two groups that received open (n=33, 57.9%) and laparoscopic (n=24, 42.1%) surgical treatments. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of recurrence rate (p=0.337) and overall survival (p=0.423). However, patients in the laparoscopic RFA group had significantly shorter hospital stay (14.1 vs. 5.9 days, p<0.05) and experienced fewer complications (Grade I: 62.5% vs. 26.3%, p=0.102).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic RFA can be performed for malignant liver tumors with lower morbidity rates, less invasiveness and lower expense compared to open surgical approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Duhwan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seokhwan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Insang
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwangsik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chun
keywords: Cholangiocarcinoma; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver metastasis; Malignant liver tumor; Radiofrequency ablation