Current status of radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma

Table 2 Summary of 5 randomized controlled studies on comparison between RFA and PEI

Year	Author	Treatment	Patient No.	FU (mo)1	Initial CR2/Tumor (%)	Initial CR2/Patient (%)	Overall survival (%)			Evidence4
							1 yr	2 yr	3 yr
2003	Lencioni et al[43]	RFA	42	23	91	NA3	100	98	NA	2
		PEI	44	22	82	NA	96	88	NA
2004	Lin et al[44]	RFA	52	24	96	96	90	82	74	1
		PEI	105	24	91	91	87	62	48
2005	Lin et al[45]	RFA	62	28	97	97	93	81	74	1
		PEI	62	26	88	89	81	66	51
2005	Shiina et al[46]	RFA	118	~4.3 yr	100	97	97	91	81	1
		PEI	187	~4.2 yr	100	91	91	81	67
2008	Brunello et al[47]	RFA	70	26	NA	96	NA	NA	63	1
		PEI	69	25	NA	66	NA	NA	59

PEI: Percutaneous ethanol injections;

¹Mean follow-up period;

²Complete response rate;

³Not available;

⁴Level of evidence.