The Absolute Effect / Evidence
Feng et al. 2012 (RFA vs resection)
Clinical question: What are the efficacy and safety outcomes of small hcc <4 cm, up to two nodules?
Registry: No registry identifier reported · Randomized controlled trial; n=168 (84 per group). Evidence cut-off: 13 November 2026.
Design, eligibility and treatment
Small HCC <4 cm and up to two nodules.
Percutaneous RFA versus surgical resection.
Randomized controlled trial; n=168 (84 per group).
Overall survival and recurrence-free survival.
Key efficacy outcomes
3-y OS 74.8% resection vs 67.2% RFA; 3-y RFS 61.1% vs 49.6%. No significant OS (p=0.342) or RFS (p=0.122) differences.
Safety
Complete grade-specific adverse-event table not available in abstract; no rates inferred.
Interpretation and limitations
Median survival differences and hazard ratios must not be converted into NNT. A patient pictogram is omitted unless a defensible fixed-time absolute event difference is reported.
Primary and supporting sources
Primary-source data reviewed; the page explicitly identifies unavailable full-text toxicity details rather than imputing them.
Current-practice context · 13 November 2026
Historical trial results are distinct from current treatment recommendations. Check current jurisdiction-specific guidance, liver function, biomarker requirements, local expertise and regulatory availability before applying these findings. Comprehensive guideline reconciliation and browser-rendered QA remain pending.