Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Mass Cytometry Analysis of Systemic and Local Immune Responses in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Published on: April 25, 2025
Radiofrequency Ablation vs. Cryoablation for Localized Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Propensity-matched Population
Jimmy Xu1, Christopher Noda1, Abigail Erickson1
1Department of Radiology, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, U.S.A.
Background/Aim:
To compare overall survival (OS) and liver cancer-specific survival (LCSS) of Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) database patients treated with cryoablation (cryo) or radiofrequency ablation (RFA).
Materials And Methods:
This was a retrospective review of Stage I or II HCC patients from the SEER database treated with cryo and RFA from 2004-2013. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regressions were performed on pooled and propensity-matched cohort.
Results:
Out of 3,239 patients, RFA showed a significant survival advantage over cryo in liver cancer specific survival (LCSS) (HR=1.634 p=0.0004). A total of 91 propensity-matched pairs had similar OS (HR=1.006 p=0.9768), but no difference in LCSS was observed between the groups [HR=1.412 (95%CI=0.933-2.137) p=0.1023]. Survival Cox models did not reveal treatment type as an independent prognostic factor.
Conclusion:
Propensity-matched cohort showed no significant difference in terms of OS and LCSS was found for patients treated with either cryo or RFA for localized HCC.
Related Concept Videos
Sign Test for Matched Pairs
To conduct the sign test, we first calculate the differences in...
What is Population Genetics?
What are Populations and Communities?
Conservation of Small Populations
Population Growth
Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks Test for Matched Pairs

