Combination of radiofrequency ablation and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinomas.

Objective To assess whether combination of radiofrequency ablation and transcatheeter arterial chemoembolizalion can increase effectiveness compared with radiofrequency alone in the treament of hepatic cancer. Methods 23 nodules smaller than 3cm in diameter of 17 patients were treated with radiofrequency ablation. Of these, 12 nodules were treated with the combination of radiofrequency ablation and chemoembolization. Results The greatest diameter of the area coagulated by combined therapy (40.8±3.1mm) was significantly larger than by radiofrequency ablation alone (37.8±2.8mm). During the follow-up, one local recurrence(11.1%) was found in the nodules treated by combined therapy, one local recurrence(12.3%) was found in the nodules treated by radiofrequency alone. No significant differences in complications were observed between combined therapy and radiofrequency ablation alone. Conclusion The combination of radiofrequency ablation and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization can increase the effectiveness compared with radiofrequency alone.