Therapeutic combination of hepatic arterial chemoembolization with radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma: an analysis of curative effect

Objective To investigate the effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization( TACE) combined with ultrasound guided radiofrequency ablation( RFA) in the treatment of large hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods The clinical data of 120 patients who were admitted to our hospital from February 2009 to June 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into TACE treatment group( n = 42),RFA group( n = 40),and TACE combined with RFA therapy( combined group)( n = 38). The curative effects of three groups were compared. Results AFP was decreased in all of 3 groups after treatment. The inactivation rate of combined group was81. 9%,significantly higher than 50% in TACE group,and 52. 5% in RFA group. The difference had statistical significance( P 0. 05). The rate of local recurrence among three groups was not statistically significant( P 0. 05). The average survival time of TACE group and RFA group were significantly lower than that in the combined group with 28. 5 months. The difference had statistical significance( P 0. 05). Conclusion Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation can increase the tumor inactivation rate than transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of large hepatocellular carcinoma,and can prolong the survival time of patients. It is worth clinical application.