Objective: The purpose of this article is to discuss the use, comparative efficacy, and research progress of radiofrequency ablation (RFA), alone or in combination with other therapies, for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Method: To search and summarize the basic and clinical studies of RFA in recent years.
Results: RFA is one of the radical treatment methods listed in the guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of HCC. It has the characteristics of being minimally invasive and safe and can obtain good local tumor control, and it can improve the local immune ability, improve the tumor microenvironment and enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs. It is commonly used for HCC treatment before liver transplantation and combined ALPPS and hepatectomy for HCC. In addition, the technology of RFA is constantly developing. The birth of noninvasive, no-touch RFA technology and equipment and the precise RFA concept have improved the therapeutic effect of RFA.
Conclusion: RFA has good local tumor control ability, is minimally invasive, is safe and has other beneficial characteristics. It plays an increasingly important role in the comprehensive treatment strategy of HCC. Whether RFA alone or combined with other technologies expands the surgical indications of patients with HCC and provides more benefits for HCC patients needs to be determined.
Keywords: Radiofrequency ablation; hepatocellular carcinoma.