Radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma sized > 3 and ≤ 5 cm: Is ablative margin of more than 1 cm justified?

Table 2 Comparison of the recurrence pattern between the 0.5-1.0 cm group and > 1.0 cm group n (%)

Recurrence pattern	0.5-1.0 cm group (n = 158)	> 1.0 cm group (n = 123)	P value1
LTP only	74 (46.8)	39 (31.7)	0.01
IDR only	34 (21.5)	22 (17.9)	0.45
LTP + IDR	38 (24.1)	16 (13.0)	0.02
Total LTP	112 (70.9)	55 (44.7)	< 0.001
Total IDR	72 (45.6)	38 (30.9)	0.012

¹Fisher’s exact test. IDR: Intrahepatic distant recurrence; LTP: Local tumor progression.