Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 14, 2014; 20(6): 1585-1593
Published online Feb 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i6.1585
Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for early hepatocellular carcinoma: Risk factors for survival
Luciana Kikuchi, Marcos Menezes, Aline L Chagas, Claudia M Tani, Regiane SSM Alencar, Marcio A Diniz, Venâncio AF Alves, Luiz Augusto Carneiro D’Albuquerque, Flair José Carrilho
Luciana Kikuchi, Aline L Chagas, Claudia M Tani, Regiane SSM Alencar, Marcio A Diniz, Luiz Augusto Carneiro D’Albuquerque, Flair J Carrilho, São Paulo Clínicas Liver Cancer Group, Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, Hospital das Clínicas, Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo 01246000, Brazil
Marcos Menezes, São Paulo Clínicas Liver Cancer Group, Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, Hospital das Clínicas, Department of Radiology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo 01246000, Brazil
Venâncio AF Alves, São Paulo Clínicas Liver Cancer Group, Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, Hospital das Clínicas, Department of Pathology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo 01246000, Brazil
Author contributions: Kikuchi L and Menezes M contributed equally to this work; Kikuchi L, Chagas AL and Menezes M designed the study; Kikuchi L, Menezes M, Chagas AL, Tani CM and Alencar RSSM performed the research; Kikuchi L, Menezes M, Diniz MA, Alves VAF, D’Albuquerque LAC and Carrilho FJ analyzed the data; Kikuchi L and Menezes M wrote the article; Alves VAF, D’Albuquerque LAC and Carrilho FJ revised the article for critical intellectual content; all authors read and approved the final version of the article for publication.
Supported by Alves de Queiroz Family Fund for Research
Correspondence to: Luciana Kikuchi, MD, São Paulo Clínicas Liver Cancer Group, Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, Hospital das Clínicas, Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, 255 Arnaldo Avenue, São Paulo 01246000, Brazil. lucianakikuchi@usp.br
Telephone: + 55-11-38934406 Fax: + 55-11-26617830
Received: October 1, 2013
Revised: November 12, 2013
Accepted: November 28, 2013
Published online: February 14, 2014
Processing time: 138 Days and 18.4 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is widely recognized as an effective therapy for early stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients who are not suitable candidates for surgical resection, such as those with decompensated liver function or portal hypertension. Reports from Brazil of clinical experience with RFA management of HCC are rare. This study evaluated 34 consecutive patients with early HCC treated with RFA at a single Brazilian hospital. RFA was efficacious for promoting local tumor control and positive outcome was related to preserved liver function. Careful evaluation of liver function may help to identify the best candidates for this procedure.