The clinical efficacy of percutaneous ethanol-lipiodol injection(PEI)combined with high-intensity focused ultrasound(HIFU)for small hepatocellularcarcinoma in special or high-risk locations

Objective The objective of this study was to explore the short-term effects and postoperative complications of ultrasound-guided percutaneous ethanol-lipiodol injection(PEI)combined with high-intensity focused ultrasound(HIFU)for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma in a special or high-risk location.Methods Forty patients with small liver cancer in a special or high-risk location were randomly divided into two groups:20 patients were treated with PEI combined with HIFU(P+H group),and 20 patients were treated with HIFU alone(H group).There were no significant differences in average age,liver function,tumor location,tumor number,or tumor size between the two groups(P>0.05).Results Significant differences were observed in ablation parameters between the two groups(P<0.05).Under the same power,ablation rates of the P+H group were significantly higher than those in the H group,and postoperative complications in the P+H group were significantly lower than those in the H group(P<0.05).Conclusion The combination of PEI and HIFU has better clinical value than HIFU alone for small-cell liver cancer in special or high-risk locations.