Orlacchio 2014.

Study characteristics
Methods	Randomised clinical trial
Participants	Country: Italy Number randomised: 30 Postrandomisation dropouts: 0 (0%) Revised sample size: 30 Average age: 72 years Females: 9 (30%) Cirrhosis: 30 (100%) Very early HCC: not stated Portal hypertension: 30 (100%) Viral aetiology: 27 (90%) Immunotherapy/antiviral adjuvant therapy: not stated Average follow‐up period in months (for all groups): all participants were followed up for 12 months. Criteria for early or very early HCC and other inclusion criteria: Single nodule < 4 cm in diameter Child‐Pugh class A or B
Interventions	Participants were randomly assigned to 2 groups: Group 1: laser (n = 15). Further details: laser using EchoLaser XVG system. Group 2: radiofrequency ablation (n = 15). Further details: radiofrequency ablation using RF 3000, Boston Scientific Corporation.
Outcomes	The outcomes reported were: mortality, adverse events.
Notes	Authors provided additional information in February 2017.
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Quote: "randomisation software was used to allocate each patient to a treatment group"
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Quote: "randomisation software was used to allocate each patient to a treatment group" Comment: further details were not available.
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	High risk	Comment: participants and personnel were not blinded (based on author replies).
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	High risk	Comment: outcome assessors were not blinded (based on author replies).
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Comment: there were no postrandomisation dropouts.
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	Comment: important clinical outcomes were reported.
For‐profit bias	Low risk	Comment: no special source of funding (author replies)
Other bias	Low risk	Comment: no other bias noted.