RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the value of radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MEDLINE (1966 - 2008), EMBASE (1966 - 2008), CBMdisc (1978 - 2008) were searched. The Cochrane Library, Evidence Base Medicine Reviews (Ovid Edition), Cancerlit (1993 - 2008) and so on, date of last search: 30 January 2008. There were no restrictions in language. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs were both included in this study, and the quality of each included study was assessed. Meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 4.2 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Four prospective controlled studies and two retrospective studies met the inclusion criteria. The results of meta-analysis showed that 1-, 3-, 4-year survival rates and 1-year tumor-free survival rate had not statistically significant difference in RFA group compared with surgical resection group (P > 0.05), but surgical resection was more effective to improve 3-year tumor-free survival rate than RFA (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The effect of RFA therapy on small HCC is similar to resection, RFA could be considered as the first-line treatment of choice for surgical candidates with small HCC in cirrhotic patients.</p>