Radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma in difficult locations: Strategies and long-term outcomes

Table 2 Outcome of radiofrequency ablation in the difficult and control groups n (%)

Group	Number of patients	Number of tumors	Tumor diameter (cm)	Early necrosis	Local progression
Control	88	170	3.1 ± 1.1	166 (97.6)	12 (7.1)1
Difficult	382	473	3.4 ± 1.2	446 (94.3)	60 (12.7)1
Near large vessels or bile ducts	87	95	3.5 ± 1.5	89 (93.7)	10 (10.5)
Near peripheral structures	232	291	3.4 ± 1.2	274 (94.2)	42 (14.4)1
Under liver capsule	63	87	3.1 ± 1.4	83 (95.4)	8 (9.2)
Total	470	643	3.3 ± 1.3	612 (95.2)	72 (11.2)

¹Local progression rate in the difficult group was significantly higher than that in the control group (12.7% vs 7.1%, P = 0.046). Local progression rate in the subgroup of tumors near peripheral structures was significantly higher than that in the control group (14.4% vs 7.1%, P = 0.018).