The effects of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation and laparoscopic hepatectomy in the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a commonly-seen cancer in the clinical setting. Laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are used for the treatment of HCC, yet the effects and safety difference of LH and RFA for HCC treatment need further investigation. METHODS: This study was a retrospective study design. HCC patients treated with LH or RFA in our hospital were identified. All the patients underwent 2-year long follow-up. The characteristics and details of LH and RFA groups during hospitalization were collected and compared. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the cumulative survival, and the survival curve was drawn and compared. RESULTS: A total of 94 HCC patients were included. The duration of surgery, estimated intraoperative blood loss, pain score on the first day after surgery, time to get out of bed after operation, time to oral eating, aspartate transaminase (AST) on the second day after surgery, C-reactive protein (CRP) on the second day after surgery, total medical cost in RFA group were significantly less than that of LH group (all P<0.05). The incidence of abdominal infection and biliary fistula in RFA group were significantly less than that of LH group (all P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the incidence of bleeding and pleural effusion between two groups (all P>0.05). The 2-year overall survival and recurrence-free survival of the two groups had no significant statistical difference (all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: RFA and LH have similar effects in the treatment of small HCC. And RFA has the advantages of less trauma, shorter operation duration, and quick postoperative recovery.