Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-RCTs and non-randomised comparative studies were eligible for the review.
Specific interventions included in the review
To be eligible for the review, studies needed to include patients treated with RFA and at least one other comparative intervention. Surgical comparative techniques included resection or hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy. Nonsurgical comparative interventions included percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), cryoablation, microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) and laser-induced thermotherapy.
Participants included in the review
The participants needed to have either a primary hepatocellular carcinoma or metastatic colorectal liver carcinoma. They must not have had an additional disease treated at the same time, nor have had recurrent liver disease.
Outcomes assessed in the review
The eligible outcomes were:
peri- and post-operative mortality;
peri- and post-operative morbidity including infection, bleeding, bile leaks, injury to other structures, discomfort and/or pain;
peri- and post-operative factors for patients including operative time, reoperation or re-intervention, operative or intervention failure rate, rate of recurrent or persistent disease, rate of 'new disease' not confined to the liver, completion of ablation and/or resection;
convalescence of the patients including length of hospital stay, time until resumption of activities, quality of life measures, and post-operative care requirements; and
the evaluation of intra-operative guidance during treatment and follow-up therapeutic response imaging, including ultrasound and computed tomography.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
Two researchers assessed whether the references met the inclusion criteria.