In the univariate analysis of factors contributing to overall survival, hepatitis C virus (HCV) versus non HCV (P = 0.042), serum albumin (g/dL) (> 3.5 versus ≤ 3.5) (P = Figure 3 Cumulative local tumor progression rate. The 1-, 3-and 5-year local tumor progression rates after percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation (PRFA) and surgical resection (SR) were 2.0%, 14.3% and 28.3%, respectively in the PRFA group and 2.8%, 14.3% and 22.8%, respectively in the SR group. There was no significant differences between these two groups as determined using the log-rank test (P = 0.746). 0.003), and platelet count (× 10 4 /mm 3 ) (> 10 versus ≤ 10) (P = 0.045) were found to be significant factors (Table 2) . However, in the multivariate analyses involving these three factors, serum albumin (g/dL) (> 3.5 versus ≤ 3.5) was the sole significant factor contributing to overall survival.