01-B: Resection vs. Ablation in Very Early HCC

Authors:

Masatoshi Kudo, MD, PhD (Japan)

Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan (LCSGJ) started nationwide surveys in 1965 and has prospectively collected data on patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). According to LCSGJ nationwide survey report during 6 years (January 2000 to December 2005), 1581 Child-pughA patients with HCC < 2cm received resection, 2156 Child- pughA patients with HCC < 2cm received radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and 766 Child-pughA patients with HCC < 2cm received percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI). In order to match the background characteristics of the patients, propensity score analysis has been applied. The hazard ratio for death in the resection group was 0.861 (0.637-1.166, P=0.3335) relative to that in the RFA group and 0.751 (0.514-1.096, P=0.1381). In conclusion, in patients with well preserved liver function (Child-pughA) and very early stage HCC (< 2cm), RFA and PEI showed a similar outcome to resection. Therefore, less invasive treatment modality such as RFA is a choice of treatment for very early stage HCC.