Skip to main content

Table 1 Percutaneous RFA vs. PEI. Summary of characteristics and quality of included studies.

From: Meta-analysis of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation versus ethanol injection in hepatocellular carcinoma

Author/year of publication

Design

Inclusion criteria

RFA

P, [T]

PEI

P, [T]

Child-Pugh

A/B/C

Mean follow-up

(months/years)

Quality

Livraghi 24

1999

quasi-RCT

Cirrhosis/chronic hepatitis and HCC ≤ 3 cm.

42, [52]

44, [60]

RFA 39/3/0

PEI 38/6/0

10 m. (4–28)

2Diii

Lencioni 26 2003

includes Olschewski25

RCT

Cirrhosis, single HCC ≤ 5 cm or 3 nodules ≥ 3 cm each. HCC at 1 cm hepatic hilum or gallbladder. No vascular invasion or extrahepatic metastasis. Child-Pugh: A or B. No previous treatment. No candidate for resection-transplantation.

52, [69]

50, [73]

RFA 45/7/0

PEI 35/15/0

RFA 22.9 ± 9.4 m.

PEI 22.4 ± 8.6 m.

1iiA

Lin 27

2004

RCT

Cirrhosis, HCC 1–4 cm maximum. Child-Pugh A or B. No previous treatment. Tumour site >5 mm from the hilum or common bile duct.

52, [64]

52, [56]

RFA 41/11/0

PEI 39/12/0

RFA 24.5 ± 1.3 m.

PEI 23.8 ± 10.4 m.

1iiA

Lin 28

2005

RCT

1–3 HCC ≤ 3 cm, a minimum of 1 cm from the hilum and gallbladder, no vascular invasion or extrahepatic metastasis. Child-Pugh A or B cirrhosis. Initial treatment.

62, [78]

62, [76]

RFA 46/16/0

PEI 47/15/0

RFA 28 ± 12 m.

PEI 26 ± 13 m.

1iiA

Shiina 29

2005

RCT

Unresectable HCC or patient's refusal of surgery. ≤ 3 lesions ≤ 3 cm. Child-Pugh A or B. No extrahepatic metastasis or vascular invasion. No previous or simultaneous malignancy.

118, [187]

114, [192]

RFA 85/33/0

PEI 85/29/0

RFA 0.6–4.3 y.

PEI 0.1–4.2 y.

1iiA

Brunello 30

2008

RCT

Cirrhotic patients in Child-Pugh A or B with 1–3 HCC nodes ≤ 3 cm. Tumour site ≥ 1 cm from the hilum, gallbladder, colon or stomach. No venous invasion, no metastatic disease. Patients no suitable for resection or liver transplantation.

70, [89]

69, [88]

RFA 39/31/0

PEI 39/30/0

RFA 26.1 m.

PEI 25.3 m.

1iiA

  1. RCT: randomised controlled trial. RFA: Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation. PEI: Percutaneous ethanol injection; P: patients; T: tumours.
  2. Quality of studies: all based on reference 19.