ABSTRACT
Several local ablation methods, most of which can be performed percutaneously under
imaging guidance, have recently been developed as minimally invasive therapy for hepatocellular
carcinoma (HCC). Among these, percutaneous ethanol injection has been the most widely
performed and is now accepted as an attractive alternative to surgery in patients
with small HCC. Other local ablation therapeutic options to achieve more effective
tumor necrosis with less invasiveness have also been developed. Some of these techniques,
such as microwave coagulation therapy and radiofrequency ablation, have already been
introduced clinically. However, the real role of these new ablation methods in the
treatment of HCC remains to be determined because of the lack of randomization and
the small number of patients in the published series. Therefore, further trials, possibly
randomized trials to compare the results of different options, are mandatory. Moreover,
the prevention of recurrence after local ablation therapy for HCC has become an urgent
problem to be resolved.
KEY WORDS
hepatocellular carcinoma - local ablation therapy - percutaneous ethanol injection
