Overall survival is similar between laparoscopic liver resection versus percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for single hepatocellular carcinoma≦3.0 cm

Abstract

Abstract Purpose Inconsistent results have been noted for the difference in survival outcome between laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) and percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (pRFA) for single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ≤ 3.0 cm in size. We aimed to clarify this issue. Methods From 2011 to 2021, 232 patients undergoing LLR and 507 patients undergoing pRFA for early-stage HCC with a single tumor of ≤ 3.0 cm were enrolled. The patients had Child–Pugh class A liver disease. Survival analysis with propensity score matching (PSM) was performed using the Kaplan − Meier method. Results Before PSM, LLR was associated with a significant survival benefit compared to pRFA (five-year overall survival [OS]: p = 0.034; five-year recurrence-free survival [RFS]: p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that the pRFA vs LR comparison was not associated with five-year OS (p = 0.063); however, it was associated with inferior five-year RFS (p < 0.001). After PSM, five‐year OS did not differ significantly between the two groups (p = 0.184); however, LLR resulted in superior RFS compared to pRFA (p < 0.001). Conclusion LLR resulted in superior five-year RFS compared to pRFA in treating early-stage HCC with a single tumor ≤ 3.0 cm in size; however, five-year OS was not significantly different between LLR and pRFA.