Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and complications of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with or without transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted for 62 small HCC cases undergoing RFA with or without TACE, and in each case, the tumors were not more than 3 with a diameter below 5 cm. Nineteen cases were managed with RFA alone (RFA group) while the other 27 underwent RFA combined with TACE (TACE+RFA group). Percutaneous RFA (RITA 1500) procedure was performed under CT guidance 1-3 weeks after TACE in TACE+RFA group.
Results: The complete tumor necrosis rate was 77.8% (21/27) in TACE+RFA group, significantly higher than that in RFA group [57.9% (11/19), P<0.01], and the former group had a significantly lower local recurrence rate than the latter [22.2% (6/27) vs 42.1% (8/19), P<0.01]. Postoperative fever, local pain and temporary hepatic function abnormality were the common complications that were relieved after proper interventions, and mortality did not occur in these cases.
Conclusion: The combination of TACE and RFA significantly increases the complete tumor necrosis rate and decreases the recurrence rate of small HCC. CT-guided percutaneous RFA can be a safe and effective therapy for small HCC.