Combination therapy with radiofrequency ablation and transcatheter chemoembolization for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: Short-term recurrences and survival.

To evaluate short-term clinical results of radiofrequency (RF) ablation combined with transcatheter chemoembolization for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to identify factors having influence on early intrahepatic recurrence. Sixty-four patients with 92 HCC lesions underwent RF ablation within 2 weeks after chemoembolization. The maximum tumor size was small (5 cm) were significantly linked with higher probability of early intrahepatic recurrence. In the multivariate analysis, tumor number was the only independent factor having significant impact on early intrahepatic recurrence. The estimated 1- and 2-year survival rates were 100% and 93%, respectively. This combined therapy showed good early therapeutic effects on treated lesions and survival. Tumor number and maximum tumor size are important factors for early intrahepatic recurrence.