Efficacy of radiofrequency ablation therapy compared to surgical resection in 164 patients in Japan with single hepatocellular carcinoma smaller than 3 cm, along with report of complications.

Background/aims: Radiofrequency ablation therapy (RFA) has become widely used against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), mainly because of its ease of use, lower level of invasiveness, and high level of effectiveness. To compare the efficacy and safety of RFA with surgery, we retrospectively investigated relevant patient clinical data.

Methodology: The patients with a single HCC (3 cm > or =, Child-Pugh A or B) who were treated with RFA (RFA-group: n=105) or surgery (Surgery-group: n=59) from January 2000 to June 2007 were enrolled.

White-coat hypertension contributes to the presence of carotid arteriosclerosis.

It remains unclear whether white-coat hypertension is associated with vascular organ damage (e.g., carotid arteriosclerosis) in the same way sustained hypertension is.