Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation versus repeat hepatectomy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma: retrospective randomized control study

ObjectivePercutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) is known to be as effective as hepatectomy for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the long-term. We wished to ascertain how it is for recurrent small HCC.MethodsFrom January 2009 to November 2011, a series of sixty-one patients were included in the study according to the criteria: each patient had one recurrent HCC, less than 5 cm in diameter. Twenty-six of the 61 patients were treated with PRFA and the other 35 were treated with repeat hepatectomy.ResultsThe interval from first surgery to recurrent for repeat hepatectomy and PRFA groups were (1,239.60±1,017.00) d and (903.42±975.11) d respectively (P=0.066). The tumor-free time after repeat hepatectomy and PRFA were (310.23±159.50) d and (278.27±123.29) d respectively (P=0.584). Size of tumor in repeat hepatectomy and PRFA were (7.34±3.16) cm2 and (5.59±3.40) cm2 (P=0.215), the total expenditure for each patient of the two groups were (26,150.66±7,923.60) yuan and (21,135.00±1,156.76) yuan (RMB), and the time of hospitalization for each of the two groups were (15.29±4.28) d and (7.46±2.20) d (P<0.001).ConclusionPRFA is proved to be as effective as repeat hepatectomy in the treatment of recurrent small HCC, and superior to repeat hepatectomy as it is less invasive.