Journal of clinical gastroenterology
-
J. Clin. Gastroenterol. · May 2014
Review Meta Analysis Comparative StudyRadiofrequency ablation versus hepatic resection for small hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Whether radiofrequency ablation or hepatic resection is superior for improving the survival in patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains controversial. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was performed to examine this issue. ⋯ Evidence from the meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials suggested that hepatic resection might improve the overall survival and recurrence-free survival in small HCC patients, whereas increase the complications and hospitalization duration. However, this conclusion should be explained with caution, due to the absence of further subgroup analysis with respect to the outcome in patients with different tumor size (<3 and 3 to 5 cm).