[The role of radiofrequency ablation in treating small hepatocellular carcinoma]

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), one of the most advanced and effective locoregional ablative therapeutic methods, is widely used in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It brings new hope and treatment pattern for small HCC, and has been regarded as a curative method as well as surgical resection and liver transplantation. In this article, we reviewed the principle and development of RFA, summarized and evaluated the therapeutic effect, safety and application of RFA in the treatment of small HCC, and compared it with surgical resection, raised current problems, and suggested the development direction. According to our experience over 6 years, the prognosis of small HCC after RFA is comparable to that after surgical resection, while RFA is safer, with less complications and wider indications, but its long-term efficacy needs to be observed in more prospective randomized clinical trails for a longer time.