Objective: To compare the efficacy and prognosis of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation and laparoscopic hepatectomy in treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods: The clinical data of 140 patients with small HCC treated from January 2012 to December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Of the patients, 80 cases underwent percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (ablation group) and 60 cases underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy (laparoscopic group). The changes in postoperative serum liver function parameters and tumor markers and incidence of postoperative complications, as well as the radical cure rate, and the recurrence and survival rates were compared between the two groups of patients.
Results: There were no significant differences in baseline data and levels of liver function parameters and tumor markers between the two groups of patients before operation (all P>0.05). After operation, the liver function parameters in ablation group first rose and then fell, and declined continuously in laparoscopic group, and in the ablation group, the levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were significantly higher than those in laparoscopic group for a short period of time after the operation (all P<0.05); the levels of tumor markers were gradually reduced in both groups, which showed no significant differences between the two groups (all P>0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in ablation group was significantly lower than that in laparoscopic group (3.75% vs. 20.00%, P=0.002). There were no significant differences concerning the radical cure rate and the recurrence rate, and the 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates between the two groups (all P>0.05).
Conclusion: There is no evident difference in efficacy and prognosis between the two treatment methods in treatment of small HCC. Radiofrequency ablation is associated with fewer complications, but with short-term injury to liver function.