Unlocking the Potential of Radiofrequency Ablation in Treating Hepatocellular Carcinoma Among Elderly Patients: A Literature Review

Abstract

Objective. This study aimed to thoroughly assess and evaluate recent studies comparing radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and sur- gical resection in older patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods. We searched the databases PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane for articles published up to 31 October 2024. This review included studies comparing RFA and surgical resec- tion in individuals with HCC aged 65 years or older. The exclusion criteria were non-human research, case reports, editorials, and studies involving patients with liver metastases or cholangiocarcinoma.

Results. We found four retrospective cohort stud- ies. The derived data showed no difference in one-year survival rates. However, the RFA group exhibited a better disease-free survival rate and a lower mortality rate than the surgical resection group.

Conclusion. RFA outperformed surgical resection in terms of overall and disease-free survival rates while showing no appreciable variation in the occurrence of complications. However, this study underscores the need for more extensive research utilizing larger sample sizes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.