Verification of therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma of less than 3 cm -Hepatectomy versus percutaneous radio-frequency ablation therapy-

Aim: There is no definite view on initial treatment selection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) less than 3 cm. In our institute, treatment results of local ablation therapy and clinicopathological examination of small HCC, “Less than 3 cm in diameter with simple nodule type or small nodular with indistinct margin in gloss type” was established as the therapeutic indication criteria of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation therapy (RFA). We have introduced it as a part of treatment strategy. This time, we compare the treatment results of RFA and hepatectomy after that and examined whether the therapeutic indication criteria of RFA in our institute was reasonable or not.