Comparison of surgical resection and radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma (≤ 3 cm): an updated meta-analysis

These findings indicate that, compared with RFA, SR offers improved survival and lower recurrence rates in patients with small HCC. However, for individuals with tumors ≤ 2 cm or multiple HCC lesions, long-term survival outcomes are comparable between the two modalities, suggesting that treatment decisions should be individualized on the basis of tumor characteristics and patient risk-benefit profiles.