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

Table 4 Significant variables in the multivariate analysis for local tumor progression, intrahepatic distant recurrence, and overall survival (n = 281)

Significant variable	LTP			IDR			OS
	HR	95%CI	P value1	HR	95%CI	P value1	HR ratio	95%CI	P value1
Tumor size (4.1-5.0 cm), yes/no	1.032	0.521-1.376	0.475	0.891	0.452-1.602	0.744	0.882	0.673-1.572	0.084
AM (> 1.0 cm), yes/no	1.484	0.101-1.812	0.001	1.278	1.137-1.729	0.025	1.604	0.881-2.753	0.002
AFP (> 200 ng/mL), yes/no	0.947	0.540-1.050	0.531	0.509	0.370-1.215	0.546	1.007	0.639-1.158	0.748
No. of ablation sessions before getting AM ≥ 0.5 cm (2 sessions), yes/no	1.012	0.683-1.772	0.663	0.923	0.562-1.218	0.347	0.745	0.321-.431	0.325

¹Cox regression analysis. LTP: Local tumor progression; IDR: Intrahepatic distant recurrence; OS: Overall survival; AFP: α-fetoprotein; AM: Ablative margin.