Multicenter Study on Transarterial Chemoembolization Combined with Radiofrequency Ablation for Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Primary versus Recurrent HCC.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for both primary and recurrent early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to analyze the significant prognostic factors.

Patients And Methods: Data from patients with early-stage primary or recurrent HCC who underwent TACE plus RFA between August 2019 and May 2024 were collected from three major general hospitals. 158 patients were divided into a primary group and a recurrent group on the basis of their baseline characteristics.