Inclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosis of HCC confirmed at our hospital.

2. Intrahepatic tumor count no higher than 3 and a minimum tumor diameter > 3 cm, but no
more than 8cm.

3. Liver function of Child-Pugh Class A or B.

4. Tumors lacked intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastasis.

5. Tumors had not invaded the portal vein, the hepatic vein trunk or the secondary
branches.

6. Indocyanine green retention at 15 minutes (ICG-15) of <10%.

7. No evidence of coagulopathy: platelet count > 50 × 109/L and a prolonged prothrombin
time of < 5 seconds.

8. No other anti-tumor therapy received before the treatment. -

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients met the inclusion criteria but declined to participate.

2. Patients with severe portal hypertension, a history of esophageal variceal
hemorrhage, severe hypersplenism syndrome, or refractory ascites.

3. Patients whose permanent pathology after treatment suggested metastatic liver cancer
or primary liver cancer of another tissue type.