BACKGROUND AND AIM: The risk of @entity5 progression (LTP) and factors predicting LTP following percutaneous thermal ablation (PTA) of @entity5 ( @entity157 ) have not been well studied in non-trial settings and may be underestimated. We aimed to assess these outcomes in a multicentre study. @entity1 AND METHODS: This was a retrospective review of consecutive @entity1 with early-stage @entity157 treated with a curative intent across three tertiary Australian centres between 2006 and 2012 with either radiofrequency ablation or microwave ablation. The primary endpoint was LTP and multivariate analysis was carried out to identify the independent predictors of LTP. RESULTS: In total 145 @entity157 nodules were treated in 126 @entity1 (78% @entity1 , mean  SD age 62  10 years) with a mean  SD follow-up of 13.5  13 months. Local recurrence was observed in 23.4% (34/145). Mean  SD LTP-free survival was 46.9  3.6 months. For @entity157 nodules 2   cm or less, local recurrence rates were lower (15.9%), with a mean  SD LTP-free survival of 48.8  4.2 months. Poorly differentiated @entity157 [hazard ratio (95% confidence interval)=4.8 (1.1-20.4), P=0.032] and pretreatment a-fetoprotein more than 50   kIU/l [8.2 (1.7-39.0), P=0.008] were independent predictors of LTP. LTP rates were not significantly different between the radiofrequency ablation and the microwave ablation groups (22.8 vs. 25.8%, P=0.7). There were six (4.8%) procedure-related adverse events, but no deaths. CONCLUSION: Local recurrence after PTA for early-stage @entity157 is high in routine clinical practice. Poorly differentiated @entity157 and pretreatment a-fetoprotein are important, independent predictors of LTP. Further well-designed randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes using adjuvant therapies in combination with @entity865 to decrease LTP rates are warranted.

High local recurrence of XXXX after percutaneous thermal ablation in routine clinical practice.

@entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['local tumour', 'early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma'] @entity157 :: ('MESH:D006528', 'Disease') :: ['HCC'] @entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'PATIENTS', 'men'] @entity865 :: ('CHEBI:61432', 'Chemical') :: ['PTA']
@entity5 :: (MESH:D009369,Disease) :: ['early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma']
