Evaluation of short- and medium-term efficacy and complications of ultrasound-guided ablation for small liver cancer

Table 4 Comparison of serum alpha fetal protein, carcinoembryonic antigen and peripheral blood regulatory T lymphocytes levels before and after surgery in 2 groups (mean ± SD)

Index	Before surgery	4 wk after surgery	8 wk after surgery
AFP (ng/mL)
MWA group (n = 66)	98.6 ± 20.5	43.2 ± 14.3a	15.1 ± 4.6a
Laparoscope group (n = 52)	103.8 ± 25.1	39.7 ± 13.6a	13.6 ± 4.8a
t value	-1.239	1.349	1.725
P value	0.218	0.180	0.087
CEA (ng/mL)
MWA group (n = 66)	14.82 ± 4.16	7.18 ± 2.30a	2.29 ± 0.77a
Laparoscope group (n = 52)	16.33 ± 5.28	8.01 ± 2.57a	2.56 ± 0.81a
t value	-1.738	-1.848	-1.848
P value	0.085	0.067	0.067
Treg (%)
MWA group (n = 66)	9.53 ± 2.33	6.81 ± 1.53a	5.52 ± 1.00a
laparoscope group (n = 52)	10.04 ± 2.56	7.41 ± 1.76a	5.80 ± 1.43a
t value	-1.130	-1.979	-1.250
P value	0.261	0.050	0.214

^aP < 0.05 vs this group before operation.

AFP: alpha fetal protein; CEA: Carcinoembryonic antigen; Treg: Peripheral blood regulatory T lymphocytes.