- In the HR group, clinical diagnosis of HCC was confirmed by histopathological examination of surgical samples in all patients; in the RFA group, HCC diagnosis was confirmed by two types of clinical imaging (ultrasonography, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging), togetherwith a serum level of α-fetoprotein higher than 400 ng/mL. If diagnosis based on imaging andα-fetoprotein level was uncertain, needle biopsy was performed.