Table 2.
Summary of analyses for MWA compared with RFA
| Outcome | Number of studies included in meta-analysis | Summary effecta (95% CI); P value | Heterogeneity (I2 value) |
|---|---|---|---|
| LTP | 18 | 0.70 (0.53, 0.94); P=0.02 | 43% |
| Technique efficacy | 18 | 1.01 (0.99, 1.03); P=0.25 | 13% |
| IDL | 9 | 0.93 (0.79, 1.10); P=0.40 | 43% |
| EHM | 2 | 0.66 (0.43, 1.01); P=0.06 | 0% |
| OS (1-Year) | 16 | 1.00 (0.98, 1.02); P=0.80 | 26% |
| OS (3-Year) | 14 | 1.03 (0.97, 1.09); P=0.40 | 37% |
| OS (5-Year) | 9 | 1.03 (0.93, 1.13); P=0.60 | 33% |
| DFS (1-Year) | 8 | 1.00 (0.96, 1.04); P=0.93 | 13% |
| DFS (3-Year) | 7 | 1.05 (0.96, 1.14); P=0.27 | 0% |
| DFS (5-Year) | 5 | 0.97 (0.71, 1.33); P=0.86 | 71% |
| Length of hospital stay (days) | 7 | −0.40 (−1.09, 0.29); P=0.26 | 80% |
| Complications | 16 | 1.05 (0.77, 1.45); P=0.75 | 0% |
Notes: aRR for MWA versus RFA for all outcomes except length of hospital stay, which is reported as the WMD. Point estimates and CIs were calculated using a random-effects model.
Abbreviations: DFS, disease-free survival; EHM, extrahepatic metastasis; IDL, intrahepatic de novo lesions; LTP, local tumor progression; MWA, microwave ablation; OS, overall survival; RFA, radiofrequency ablation; RR, risk ratio; WMD, weighted mean difference.