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World J Gastrointest Surg. Feb 27, 2026; 18(2): 114378
Published online Feb 27, 2026. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v18.i2.114378
Published online Feb 27, 2026. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v18.i2.114378
Synchronous vs sequential combination of transarterial chemoembolization and microwave ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma: Efficacy and prognosis
Yi Yu, Wei Yuan, Bai-Lin Wang, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510220, Guangdong Province, China
Jin Lei, First Clinical Medical College, Xiangnan College, Chenzhou 423000, Hunan Province, China
Chun-Bo Zhao, Cheng-Gang Tao, Sheng-Hui Liu, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou City, Chenzhou 423000, Hunan Province, China
Author contributions: Yu Y designed and performed the research; Wang BL designed the research and supervised the report; all authors collected and analyzed data and approved the final manuscript.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Ethic Committee of Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University.
Informed consent statement: Patients were not required to give informed consent to the study because the analysis used anonymous clinical data that were obtained after each patient agreed to treatment by written consent.
Conflict-of-interest statement: There is no conflict of interest associated with any of the senior author or other coauthors contributed their efforts in this manuscript.
STROBE statement: The authors have read the STROBE Statement—checklist of items, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the STROBE Statement—checklist of items.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Corresponding author: Bai-Lin Wang, PhD, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University, No. 396 Tongfu Middle Road, Guangzhou 510220, Guangdong Province, China. nini520o@163.com
Received: November 4, 2025
Revised: December 21, 2025
Accepted: January 7, 2026
Published online: February 27, 2026
Processing time: 113 Days and 22.4 Hours
Revised: December 21, 2025
Accepted: January 7, 2026
Published online: February 27, 2026
Processing time: 113 Days and 22.4 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This study comparatively evaluated synchronous versus sequential combinations of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and microwave ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma. Both strategies effectively controlled tumor lesions, inhibited tumor markers, and improved liver function, with no significant differences in patient outcomes. Importantly, the synchronous approach significantly reduced ablation attempts and procedure duration, indicating a modest procedural advantage over the sequential regimen.