Original ArticlesSurvival analysis of high‐intensity focused ultrasound ablation in patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma

BackgroundHigh‐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.Patients and methodsForty‐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.ResultsMore 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).ConclusionsHIFU 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.