Objective:Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation(PRFA) is known to be as effective as hepatectomy for small hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in the long-term.We wished to ascertain how it is for recurrent small HCC.Methods:From January 2009 to November 2011,a series of sixty-one patients were included in the study according to the criteria:each patient had one recurrent HCC,less than 5 cm in diameter.Twenty-six of the 61 patients were treated with PRFA and the other 35 were treated with repeat hepatectomy.Results:The interval from first surgery to recurrent for repeat hepatectomy and PRFA groups were(1,239.60±1,017.00) d and(903.42±975.11) d respectively(P=0.066).The tumor-free time after repeat hepatectomy and PRFA were(310.23±159.50) d and(278.27±123.29) d respectively(P=0.584).Size of tumor in repeat hepatectomy and PRFA were(7.34±3.16) cm^2 and(5.59±3.40) cm^2(P=0.215),the total expenditure for each patient of the two groups were(26,150.66±7,923.60) yuan and(21,135.00±1,156.76) yuan(RMB),and the time of hospitalization for each of the two groups were(15.29±4.28) d and(7.46±2.20) d(P<0.001).Conclusion:PRFA is proved to be as effective as repeat hepatectomy in the treatment of recurrent small HCC,and superior to repeat hepatectomy as it is less invasive.
