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

Table 3 Significant variables in the univariate analysis for local tumor progression, intrahepatic distant recurrence, and overall survival (n = 281)

Significant variable	n	P value1
		LTP	IDR	OS
Age (> 65 yr), yes/no	123/158	0.376	0.282	0.103
Gender (male), yes/no	195/76	0.571	0.436	0.854
Liver cirrhosis, yes/no	92/189	0.469	0.645	0.912
Child–Pugh grade (Class B), yes/no	145/136	0.173	0.742	0.811
Tumor location (S5,S8), yes/no	152/129	0.537	0.488	0.635
Tumor size (4.1-5.0 cm), yes/no	154/127	0.007	0.011	0.005
AM (> 1.0 cm), yes/no	123/158	0.001	0.024	0.003
AST (> 40 IU/L), yes/no	166/115	0.658	0.586	0.879
ALT (> 40 IU/L), yes/no	157/124	0.672	0.460	0.734
ALP (> 110 IU/L), yes/no	120/161	0.385	0.473	0.581
Alb (> 3.5 g/dL), yes/no	202/79	0.622	0.564	0.838
T-Bil (> 1 mg/dL), yes/no	93/188	0.541	0.502	0.796
PT (> 70%), yes/no	216/65	0.336	0.573	0.636
AFP (> 200 ng/mL), yes/no	44/237	0.016	0.032	0.028
Post-RF ablation antiviral therapy, yes/no	86/195	0.275	0.547	0.201
Body mass index (> 25 kg/m2), yes/no	83/198	0.611	0.582	0.913
No. of ablation sessions before getting AM ≥ 0.5 cm (2 sessions), yes/no	67/214	0.034	0.041	0.031
Approaches of the first ablation session (Laparoscopic), yes/no	66/215	0.459	0.383	0.728

¹Cox regression analysis. AFP: α-fetoprotein; Alb: Albumin; ALP: Alkaline phosphatase; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AM: Ablative margin; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; IDR: Intrahepatic distant recurrence; LTP: Local tumor progression; OS: Overall survival; PT: Prothrombin time; T-Bil: Total bilirubin.