Thermal ablation versus hepatectomy for solitary colorectal liver metastases up to 5 cm: a multicenter target trial emulation on safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness
For SCLM ≤ 5 cm, TA provides comparable oncologic outcomes to HT, alongside superior safety and cost-effectiveness. This supports its role as a first-line therapeutic alternative for selected patients or when surgery is contraindicated.
Authors
- MD Xiaohui Ji (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4383-3104)
- Xinyan Huang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0584-8452)
- Jianming Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5919-3244)
- Lei Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8723-3461)
- Lu Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1145-5428)
- Haibo Shao
- Huage Zhong
- Zhishuai Li
- Yongyan Gao
- Kexin Lou
- G J He
- Jie Yu
- De-zhi Zhang
- Hong Yang
- Ping Liang
- Erjiao Xu
- Huarong Li
- Yu Song
- Kai Li
- Man Lu
- Guangjian Liu
- Bin Ren
- Qian Li
Institutions
- Hebei Medical University (CN)
- Sun Yat-sen University (CN)
- Guangxi Medical University (CN)
- Second Military Medical University (CN)
- Dalian Medical University (CN)
- Jilin University (CN)
- Anhui Medical University (CN)
- Chinese PLA General Hospital (CN)
- Qinghai University Affiliated Hospital (CN)
- Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (CN)
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University (CN)
- Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University (CN)
- Aerospace Center Hospital (CN)
- Sichuan Cancer Hospital (CN)
- First Hospital of Jilin University (CN)
- First Affiliated Hospital of GuangXi Medical University (CN)
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University (CN)
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CN)
- Xuzhou Central Hospital (CN)
- Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital (CN)
- First Hospital of China Medical University (CN)
- Henan Cancer Hospital (CN)
- Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (CN)
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University (CN)
- Xijing Hospital (CN)
- Beijing Haidian Hospital (CN)
- Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University
- China Medical University (CN)
- Air Force Medical University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BMC Medicine
- Published
- 2026-03-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-026-04767-2
- Primary Topic
- Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment and Prognosis
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00