Local injection therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world and ranks the third most common cause of cancer-related death. Surgical resection, liver transplantation and percutaneous ablation are generally considered the only curative treatment for early stage HCC. Besides the limitations of insufficient organ donors and a long waiting time for liver transplantation, however, resection is applied only to patients with good hepatic reserve and localized tumors, with a resectability of 30%. DATA SOURCES: Local ablation therapy, which is minimally invasive but contributes to the significant improvement of survival in patients with unresectable tumor, hasbeen widely used in treating small HCC. Among the techniques of local therapy, percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) with a complete response in 80% of HCCs less than 3 cm has been accepted as an alternative to surgery in patients with small HCC. Moreover, percutaneous hepatic quantified ethanol injection (PHQEI) or PEI according to the standard criteria has been confirmed to benefit patients with HCC, especially when quantified ethanol is given at a short interval (QESI, the interval was 2-3 days). RESULT: Several limitations related to local percutaneous methods may result in incomplete therapeutic effect in case of larger HCC nodules (>3 cm). CONCLUSION: The combined use of different methods according to the clinical status of patients or tumors may be essential to the effective treatment of HCC.     

Outcome of transarterial chemoembolization monotherapy, and in combination with percutaneous ethanol injection, or radiofrequency ablation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Aim:  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most commonly occurring malignances worldwide. Curative therapies such as resection, percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) have been applied to patients with early-stage HCC. Patients with more advanced cancers require local or systemic therapies. We present the results of our retrospective review conducted to evaluate whether transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) alone and combined TACE with percutaneous ablation for HCC exhibited superior efficacy to palliative treatment.
Methods:  The effects of TACE and of the combined therapies (TACE + PEI or TACE + RFA) on the long-term survival rates were evaluated in 268 untreated HCC patients by various statistical analyses.
Results:  The cumulative survival rates in the TACE alone group were significantly superior to those in the palliative treatment group. Further, the cumulative survival rates in the combined TACE + PEI/RFA group were significantly superior to those in the TACE alone group. When the comparison among the groups was restricted to patients with two or three tumors fulfilling the Milan criteria, significantly greater prolongation of survival was observed in the combined TACE + PEI/RFA group than in the PEI/RFA alone group.
Conclusions:  The aforementioned treatment modalities yielded greater improvements of the survival rate and survival duration as compared to palliative treatment in HCC patients. Furthermore, in terms of the effect on the survival period, combined TACE + PEI/RFA therapy was more effective than TACE monotherapy, and also more effective than PEI or RFA monotherapy in cases with multiple tumors fulfilling the Milan criteria.     

Radiofrequency ablation of liver tumors: experience with open and percutaneous approach.

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), a thermal coagulation technique, has been used for ablation of primary and secondary liver tumors. METHODS: Over a 24-month period, 41 patients, including 20 with hepatocellular cancer (HCC), 14 with liver metastases from colorectal tumors and 7 with metastases from other tumors, underwent RFA in our institution. Ablation was done using intra-operative (n=27) or percutaneous ultrasonographic (n=14) guidance. A zone of ablation larger than the size of the lesion on CT scan indicated successful RFA. RESULTS: The mean size of lesions was 4.9 cm for HCC and 3.1 cm for metastases. Among 20 patients with HCC, 16 had complete tumor ablation and one had failure of localization. All patients with liver metastases had successful tumor ablation. There was no procedure-related death. Two patients had hemoperitoneum and one experienced skin burn. During a median follow up of 16 months, five patients with HCC and two with colorectal metastases died. One patient had tumor recurrence at the ablation site and two developed fresh solitary metastatic lesions; all three are disease-free after repeat ablation treatment. CONCLUSIONS: RFA is a safe and promising technique for the treatment of non-resectable HCC and liver metastases, in the short term.     

Puncture injection of para-toluenesulfonamide combined with chemoembolization for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is difficult to eradicate due to its resilient nature. Portal vein is often involved in tumors of large size, which exclude the patient from surgical resection and local ablative therapy, such as percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) because they were considered neither effective nor safe. Currently, there is almost no effective treatment for HCC of such condition. As a unique antitumor agent in form of lipophilic fluid for local injection, para-toluenesulfonamide (PTS) produces mild side effects while necrotizing the tumor tissues quickly and efficiently. Being largely different from both PEI and RFA therapies, PTS can disseminate itself in tumors more easily than other caustic agents, such as alcohol. So PTS may offer additional benefit to HCCs with vascular involvement. We herein describe a 70-year-old HCC patient who was treated with the combination of PTS injection and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, resulting in a significantly improved clinical prognosis.     

Combined interventional therapies of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies in the world, responsible for an estimated one million deaths annually. It has a poor prognosis due to its rapid infiltrating growth and complicating liver cirrhosis. Surgical resection, liver transplantation and cryosurgery are considered the best curative options, achieving a high rate of complete response, especially in patients with small HCC and good residual liver function. In nonsurgery, regional interventional therapies have led to a major breakthrough in the management of unresectable HCC, which include transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave coagulation therapy (MCT), laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT), etc. As a result of the technical development of locoregional approaches for HCC during the recent decades, the range of combined interventional therapies has been continuously extended. Most combined multimodal interventional therapies reveal their enormous advantages as compared with any single therapeutic regimen alone, and play more important roles in treating unresectable HCC.     

Management of inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract   Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common and difficult-to-treat malignant tumor. Surgical interventions are feasible in only a small proportion of patients, and non-surgical therapy has been frequently administered to patients with inoperable HCC. Various modalities of loco-regional therapy have gained much interest during the past decade. Among them, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), percutaneous injection of ethanol (PEI) or acetic acid (PAI), radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) are effective treatment options. TACE can target multiple hypervascular tumors but has the potential risk of inducing hepatic or renal failure. PEI is a well-established method for small (< 3 cm) HCC, and PAI has the advantage over PEI as being more effective with fewer treatment sessions. RFA has excellent tumor ablation ability, and has been extended to treat medium- or large-sized HCC. However, the overall complication rate may be higher than previously assumed. MCT is similar to RFA in its clinical application and adverse effects. Although combination therapy often achieves a higher response rate, the side-effects may also be additive. Other therapies, such as injection of hot saline or yttrium-90 microspheres, interstitial laser photocoagulation and cryoablation are seldom used nowadays. Thalidomide may be useful in a minority of HCC patients, whereas radiotherapy, chemotherapy and tamoxifen are generally ineffective. In conclusion, although long-term survival in patients with inoperable HCC is possible in selected patients, the overall prognosis remains unsatisfactory, especially in those with aggressive tumor behavior. Newer antitumor therapy with better treatment efficacy is urgently needed. Information of the design for a more comprehensive approach using the existing therapeutic options may help refine the treatment strategy.     

Hepatocellular carcinoma ≤ 4 cm treated with radiofrequency ablation with or without percutaneous ethanol injection

Background. To compare the survival of Chinese cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ≤ 4 cm who underwent radiofrequency ablation (RFA) alone or a combination of RFA with percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI).Material and methods. Retrospective analysis was performed for 681 cases with HCC ≤ 4 cm who were treated with RFA alone or RFA combined with PEI (RFA + PEI) between 2004 and 2011.Results. As a result, 180 patients in each group were selected after propensity score matching (PSM). Higher overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were achieved by RFA + PEI compared with RFA alone (P = 0.019 and 0.009, respectively). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year cumulative OS rates were 78.0, 44.4, and 30.1% for patients in RFA group and 88.2, 58.0, and 41.1% for patients in RFA + PEI group, respectively. Besides, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year cumulative RFS rates were 77.0, 43.8, and 29.2% in RFA group, and 87.9, 57.6, and 38.4% in RFA + PEI group, respectively. The local recurrence, complete ablation and five-year mortality showed no distinct differences between RFA and RFA + PEI groups in three subgroups classified with tumor size. Moreover, Cox regression multivariate analysis results showed that sex and treatment approach were significantly related to OS, whereas sex, status of HBsAg, local recurrence, and number of tumor nodule were related to RFS.Conclusion. Therefore, the combination of RFA and PEI yielded better OS and RFS rates than RFA alone for Chinese patients with HCC ≤ 4 cm.     

Transarterial chemoembolization in combination with percutaneous ablation therapy in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta‐analysis

Background: Recent evidence suggests that transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or a percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) may have a synergistic effect in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of the current meta‐analysis was to identify the survival benefits of TACE combined with percutaneous ablation (PA) therapy (RFA or PEI) for unresectable HCC compared with those of TACE or PA alone. Methods: Randomized‐controlled trials (RCTs) published as full papers or abstracts were searched to assess the survival benefit or tumour recurrence for patients with unresectable HCC on electronic databases. The primary outcome was survival. The secondary outcomes were response to therapy and tumour recurrence. Results: Ten RCTs met the criteria to perform a meta‐analysis including 595 participants. TACE combined with PA therapy, respectively improved, 1‐, 2‐, and 3‐year overall survival compared with that of monotherapy [odds ratio (OR) 2.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14–4.57; P=0.020], (OR=4.53, 95% CI 2.62–7.82, P<0.00001) and (OR=3.50, 95% CI 1.75–7.02, P=0.0004). Sensitivity analysis demonstrated a significant benefit in 1‐, 2‐ and 3‐year overall survival of TACE plus PEI compared with that of TACE alone for patients with large HCC lesions, but not in TACE plus RFA vs RFA for patients with small HCCs. The pooled result of five RCTs showed that combination therapy decreased tumour recurrence compared with that of monotherapy (OR=0.45, 95% CI 0.26–0.78, P=0.004). Conclusion: TACE combined with PA therapy especially PEI improved the overall survival status for large HCCs.     

Interventional therapies of unresectable liver metastases

Liver metastases are the major cause of mortality in patients with gastrointestinal carcinomas and other malignant tumors, carrying a poor prognosis and presenting considerable management. Surgical resection remains the only curative therapy for liver metastases up to now. However, only a small percentage of patients are suitable for curative resection due to many factors: multi-centric tumors, extrahepatic metastases, early vascular invasion, and coexisting advanced liver cirrhosis. In non-surgical cases, regional interventional therapies have led to a major break through in the treatment of unresectable liver metastases, which include transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT), cryosurgical ablation (CSA), microwave coagulation therapy (MCT), percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), and others. As a result of the technical development of locoregional approaches for unresectable liver metastases during recent decades, the range of combined interventional therapies has been continuously enlarged. The current roles of these treatment options for liver metastases are discussed in this review.     

Is percutaneous ethanol injection therapy still effective for hepatocellular carcinoma in the era of radiofrequency ablation?

Percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) therapy has been replaced by more-effective thermal ablation techniques that have lower local recurrence rates. However, PEI therapy remains useful in certain settings. Since PEI can be performed in any portion of the liver, PEI therapy can be valuable when tumors are located in close proximity to intestinal loops or other positions that are risky for thermal local ablative techniques. PEI therapy is also valuable in other situations where radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is difficult, including technically difficult masses that are not detected with ultrasound (US), are located in the hepatic dome, in the subcapsular area, and exophytically, or are surrounded by large vessels. PEI therapy contributes to combination therapy with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization or RFA in advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and also to the treatment of large HCC or extrahepatic metastasis from HCC. These roles of PEI therapy should be stressed for the treatment of HCCs in appropriate clinical situations. This comprehensive review of articles related to PEI therapy illustrates the recent role and indications of this therapy, which is currently valuable for HCC in the era of RFA.     

Radiofrequency ablation combined with percutaneous ethanol injection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Background and study aimsHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major burden on health-care systems worldwide. Although radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is currently considered the best technique for coagulative necrosis, the superiority of concomitant use of RFA and percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) needs to be determined. The study was designed to compare efficacy, safety and rate of survival of patients with HCC assigned to receive combined PEI–RFA versus RFA alone and versus PEI alone.Patients and methodsThis 3-year study enrolled 90 cirrhotic patients with HCC (Child’s class A or B, but not class C). They were randomly assigned for either PEI–RFA (group I), RFA alone (group II) or PEI alone (group III). The primary end point was ablation of the tumour. The secondary end point was rate of survival and recurrence.ResultsAfter the first session, complete ablation was significantly higher in the combination group (87.9%) compared with the RFA group (54.54%). After the second session, complete ablation was achieved in 97.0% of the combination group and in 84.8% of the RFA group. Regarding the PEI group, 75% had complete ablation, whereas 25% had partial ablation after multiple sessions. The survival rate, 1.5 years later, was significantly higher in group I (86.7%) compared with group III (63.3%). The overall incidence of serious adverse events was nil.ConclusionCombined treatment is superior to RFA alone and to PEI alone, in safety and efficacy in patients with HCC.     

Recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma successfully treated with radiofrequency thermal ablation

We report a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who was successfully treated with radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA). A 71-year-old man was admitted to our hospital in August 1996 with recurrence of HCC. Partial hepatic resection had been performed in January 1993 for HCC that had measured 1.3 cm in segment VIII, and subsequently he had received six sessions of percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) for treatment of recurrence. Dynamic computed tomography (CT) performed in August 1996 showed two recurrent tumors, one measuring 3.8 cm in segment VIII adjacent to the right hepatic vein, and one measuring 2.0 cm in segment V. Three sessions of percutaneous RFA were performed. After this treatment, most of the tumor in segment VIII and all the tumor in segment V showed low density on dynamic CT, and the right hepatic vein was preserved. However, a remnant of the mass appeared near the right hepatic vein 2 months after the treatment. An additional two sessions of RFA were performed. After the end of treatment, serum alpha-fetoprotein level dropped to the normal range, and no sign of recurrence has been observed until September 1998.     

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma as a bridge to liver transplantation

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) can be a definitive treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Prolonged waiting times for cadaveric livers, however, may lead to dropout from the waiting list or worsened post-OLT prognosis as a result of interval tumor progression. Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is widely used for local control of small unresectable HCC, but its pretransplant role remains unclear. We studied the outcome of 52 consecutive patients accepted for OLT bearing 87 HCC nodules and treated with percutaneous RFA. On initial staging, the tumor burden exceeded the Milan criteria in 10 patients. Complete tumor coagulation was observed in 74 of 87 (85.1%) nodules based on postablation imaging. After a mean of 12.7 months (range: 0.3-43.5) on the waiting list, 3 of 52 patients (5.8%) had dropped out due to tumor progression. Forty-one patients had undergone transplantation, with 1- and 3-year post-OLT survival rates of 85% and 76%, respectively. No patient developed HCC recurrence. There were three major complications in 76 RFA procedures (hepatic arterial hemorrhage, small bowel perforation, and liver decompensation salvaged by OLT), without resultant death or dropout. In conclusion, percutaneous RFA is an effective bridge to OLT for patients with compensated liver function and safely accessible tumors. Tumor-related dropout rate and post-OLT outcome compared favorably with published controls of patients with early-stage disease. This can be attributed to the efficacy of RFA in producing local cure or curbing tumor progression during the waiting period.     

射频消融与无水酒精注射治疗术后复发肝细胞癌患者的疗效比较

目的对比肝细胞癌（HCC）术后复发肿瘤病灶经射频消融（RFA）与无水酒精（PEI）注射治疗的疗效,以期为临床治疗HCC肿瘤复发提供参考。方法回顾性分析2007年8月至2010年1月HCC术后单一病灶复发患者175例,分为PEI治疗101例与RFA治疗74例。所有病例治疗前后均行常规彩超和超声造影/增强CT检查,观察比较治疗次数、病灶完全灭活率及治疗并发症发生率,记录患者治疗后1、2、3年生存率。计量资料采用t检验,计数资料采用χ2检验。结果 HCC术后复发病灶,平均每例的PEI治疗次数多于RFA（P〈0.05）,PEI和RFA治疗并发症的发生率比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;肿瘤直径〈2.0 cm的HCC术后复发病灶组中,PEI和RFA治疗病灶完全灭活率比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）,而2.0～5.0 cm HCC术后复发病灶组,PEI治疗病灶完全灭活率低于RFA,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。HCC术后复发病灶直径〈2.0 cm组中,PEI和RFA治疗术后1、2、3年生存率分别为89.1%和90.2%、69.1%和70.7%、49.1%和53.7%,两种治疗方式术后生存率比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。而2.0～5.0cm组中,PEI和RFA治疗术后1、2、3年生存率分别为63.0%和84.8%、43.5%和66.7%、21.7%和45.5%,两种治疗方式术后生存率比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论肿瘤直径小于2.0 cm HCC术后复发病灶的RFA和PEI局部消融治疗,患者术后的生存率无明显差异,而肿瘤直径2.0～5.0 cm时,RFA治疗后生存期优于PEI。     

Review of dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound guidance in ablation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Local ablative techniques-percutaneous ethanol injection, microwave coagulation therapy and radiofrequency ablation (RFA)-have been developed to treat unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The success rate of percutaneous ablation therapy for HCC depends on correct targeting of the tumor via an imaging technique. However, probe insertion often is not completely accurate for small HCC nodules, which are poorly def ined on conventional B-mode ultrasound (US) alone. Thus, multiple sessions of ablation t...     

Clinical short—term results of radiofrequency ablation in l;iver cancers

AIM：To study local therapeutic efficacy,side effects,and complications of radiofrequency ablation(RFA),which is emerging as a new method for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)with cirrhosi or tchronic hepatitis and metastatic liver cencer.METHODS:Thirty-six patients with primary and secondary liver cancers(21with primary hepatocellular carcinoma,12with colorectal cancer liver metastases and 3with other malignant liver metastases),which were considered not suitable for curative resection,were include in this study.They were treated either with RFA(RITA2000,Mountain View.California,UAS)pecutaneously(n=20)or intraoperatively(n=16).The procedures were performed using the ultrasound guidance.The quality of RFAwere based on monitoring of equipments and subiect feeling of the practitioners.Patients treated withRFA was followed according to clinical findings,radiographic images.and tumor markers.RESULTS:Thirty-six patients underwent RFAfor48nodules.RFAwas used to treat an average1.3lesions per patient,and the median size of treated lesions was2.5cm(range,0.5-9cm),The average hospital stay was5.6days overall(2.8days for percutaneous cases and7.9days for open operations).Sevn patients underwent a second RFA procedure(sequential ablations).Sixteen HCCpatients with a high level of alpha fetoprotein(AFP)and 9colorectal cancer liver metastases patients with a high level of serum carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)have a great reduction benefited from RFA.Four(11.1%)patients had complications;one skin burn;one postoperativa hemorrhage;one cholecystitis and one hepatic abscess associated with percutaneous ablations of a large lesion.There were 4deaths;3patients died from local and system diseases(1at7month,1at9month,and 1at 12month),1patients died from cardivascular shck,but no RFA-related death.At a median follow-up of 10months(range,1-24months),6patients(16.7%)had recurrences at an RFAsite,and 20patients(56.7%)remained clinically freeof diseas.     

Radiofrequency ablation versus ethanol injection for early hepatocellular carcinoma: A randomized controlled trial

Objective. To compare percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), the standard approach which has been used for many years to treat early non-surgical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhotic patients, and radiofrequency ablation (RFA), which has become an interesting alternative. Material and methods. A randomized trial was carried out on 139 cirrhotic patients in Child-Pugh classes A/B with 1–3 nodes of HCC (diameter 15–30 mm), for a total of 177 lesions. Patients were randomized to receive RFA (n=70) or PEI (n=69). The primary end-point was complete response (CR) 1 year after the percutaneous ablation of all HCC nodes identified at baseline. Secondary end-points were: early (30–50 days) CR, complications, survival and costs. Results. In an intention-to-treat analysis, 1-year CR was achieved in 46/70 (65.7%) and in 25/69 (36.2%) patients treated by RFA and PEI, respectively (p=0.0005). For lesions >20 mm in diameter, there was a larger CR rate in the RFA group (68.1% versus 26.3%). An early CR was obtained in 67/70 (95.7%) patients treated by RFA compared with 42/64 (65.6%) patients treated by PEI (p=0.0001). Complications occurred in 10 and 12 patients treated by RFA and PEI, respectively. The overall survival rate was not significantly different in the RFA versus PEI arm (adjusted hazard ratio=0.88, 95% CI: 0.50–1.53). There was an incremental health-care cost of 8286 € for each additional patient successfully treated by RFA. Conclusions. The 1-year CR rate after percutaneous treatment of early HCC was significantly better with RFA than with PEI but did not provide a clear survival advantage in cirrhotic patients.     

Needle track seeding following percutaneous procedures for hepatocellular carcinoma

Neoplastic seeding may arise after diagnostic or therapeutic percutaneous procedures for hepatocellular carcinoma. The true incidence of seeding with hepatocellular carcinoma is difficult to assess precisely, but a significant risk of seeding exists and is greater when performing diagnostic biopsy as compared to therapeutic percutaneous procedures [radiofrequency ablation, radiofrequency ablation (RFA); percutaneous ethanol injection, Percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI)]. Whenever liver transplantation is feasible, diagnostic needle biopsies should be avoided, but RFA and PEI are often needed as "bridge" treatments. The role of adjuvant treatments in reducing the incidence of seeding following RFA or PEI requires further evaluation.     

肝癌的冷冻治疗

冷冻疗法己成为治疗不能手术切除肝癌的重要手段。冷冻方法可选择手术中冷冻，切除或不切除肿瘤、腹腔镜下冷冻，或在超声、CT下，经皮冷冻。作为一局部治疗，冷冻具有超越其他治疗方法的若干优点：仅消融肝内肿瘤组织，而少伤及正常组织；由于大血管流动血流的温热作用，冷冻可安全地治疗临近大血管的肝肿瘤；冷冻比手术更适宜治疗肝多发性肿瘤。冷冻联合肝动脉化疗栓塞（TACE）、酒精注射或^125碘粒子植入，有相辅相成的作用。对于冷冻在肝癌治疗中应用，可归结如下：①〈5cm，尤其〈3cm的肝癌，数目不超过3个，可以手术中冷冻或经皮冷冻。②〉5cm的肝癌，先作TACE，再给予经皮冷冻。③〉5cm，边缘不整，预计冷冻不完全的肝癌，可予手术中或经皮冷冻，同时在冷冻区周边部注射酒精或植入^125碘粒子。     

Radiofrequence ablation of liver cancers

Primary and secondary malignant liver cancer are some of most common malignant tumors in the world. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are not very effective against them. Surgical resection has been considered the only potentially curtive option, but the majority of patients are not candidates for resection because of tumor size, location near major intrahepatic blood vessels and bile ducts, precluding a margin-negative resection, cirrhotic, hepatitis virus infection or multifocial. Radiofrequence ablation (RFA), which is a new evolving effective and minimally invasive technique, can produce coagulative necrosis of malignant tumors. RFA should be used percutaneously, laparascopically, or during the open laparotomy under the guidance of ultrasound, CT scan and MRI. RFA has lots of advantages superior to other local therapies including lower complications, reduced costs and hospital stays, and the possibility of repeated treatment. In general, RFA is a safe, effective treatment for unresectable malignant liver tumors less than 7.0 cm in diameter. We review the principle, mechanism, procedures and experience with RFA for treating malignant liver tumors.