Clinical investigation of TACE,RFA and combined TACE and RFA in the therapy of PHC

Objective To investigate retrospectively the efficacy of RFA,TACE and combined RFA and TACE in the treatment of unresectable primary hepatocellular carcinoma(PHC).Methods Between January 2000 and November 2003,39 patients with histologically proven PHC were included in this study.All patients were not suitable to receive surgical resection.Nine patients received RFA (RFA group),twenty received serial TACE (TACE group),and ten received combined RFA and TACE (RFA+TACE group).Results The complete necrosis rate of the RFA+TACE group (92.3%) was significantly higher than that of TACE group (24%) and RFA group (60%)(P0.05).The 1 year survival rate of both the RFA+TACE and RFA group was significantly better than that of TACE groups(P0.05),the 2 year survival rate of the RFA+TACE group was significantly better than that of other two groups,the 3 year survival rate of the RFA+TACE group was significantly better than that of TACE group.Conclusion For unresectable PHC,combined RFA and TACE is a promising therapy,and the clinical outcome is significantly better than that of TACE or RFA alone.