[Guidelines for image-guided ablation of primary liver cancer (2023 version)]

Image-guided ablation for primary liver cancer has many advantages, including high efficacy, minimal invasion, easy operation, high tolerance, short hospitalization, fast recovery, and few complications. Percutaneous radiofrequency and microwave ablation are the most mature technologies, which have been recognized by many domestic and foreign guidelines as the first-line treatment for small liver cancers. As a large country with large numbers of liver cancers, Chinese doctors have accumulated rich experience in ablation therapy for liver cancer and achieved systematic research results. This guideline focused on the standardization of the puncture path, guidance techniques, indications, preoperative preparation, operation methods, postoperative treatment and follow-up, and complication prevention and treatment strategies for liver cancer ablation, and elaborates on the technical comparisons of image-guided ablation modalities and their status in comprehensive management of primary liver cancer.