Abstract: Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of portal vein emb1olization and radiorequency ablation in treating patients with liver cancer （diameter >3 cm）. Methods Ninety-three patients with liver cancer（78 with HCC,and 15 with metastasis） between January 2011 and February 2013 in our hospital were divided into combination group （n=54） and control group （n=39）. The patients in combination group were treated with portal vein embolization and radiorequency ablation,while in the control group were treated with radiorequency ablation. The patients were followed-up for three years. The complications,local tumor residual recurrences and disease-free survivals in the two groups were compared. Results After treatment,there were 4 （7.41%） patients with hepatic subcapsular hematoma,2（3.70%） with hydrothorax,1（1.85%） with dilation of distal common bile duct and the complications rate was 12.96%（7/54） in the combination group,while the hydrothorax,distal bile duct expansion and complications rate in the control group were 2 （5.13%）,1 （2.56%）,2 （5.13%） and 12.82% （5/39）,respectively （the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant （x²=0.000,P=0.984）;In combination group,local tumor recurrence rates at 1 a,2 a and 3 a were 0.00%,3.70% and 11.11%,respectively,while they were 7.69%,20.51% and 35.90%,respectively,in the control group （x²=4.292,6.667,8.242,P=0.038,0.010,0.004）;In combination group,the disease-free survival rates at 1 a,2 a and 3 a were 72.22%, 61.11% and 55.56%,while in the control group,they were 53.85%,43.60% and 38.46%,respectively[the differences were not significant（x²=3.340,2.797,2.650,P=0.068,0.094,0.104）]. Conclusion Percutaneous portal vein embolization and radiorequency ablation in the treatment of patients with liver cancer（diameter>3 cm） might decrease significantly the local tumor recurrence in three years,which warrants further investigation.

Key words: Hepatic neoplasms, Percutaneous portal vein embolisation, Radiofrequency ablation, Outcome