Thermal ablation is widely regarded as definitive therapy for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma, but its efficacy decreases in tumors greater than 3 cm. Extensive clinical studies have supported improved outcomes provided through combining transarterial embolic therapy with ablation in the treatment of larger tumors. This article will provide a survey of the science and data for combination therapy in both thermal and nonthermal ablation modalities, as well as describe emerging applications.
Keywords: ablation; combination therapy; cryoablation; embolization; hepatocellular carcinoma; microwave ablation; radiofrequency ablation; thermal ablation; transarterial chemoembolization; transarterial embolization.
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