Title: Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization alone versus combined with microwave
ablation for recurrent small hepatocellular carcinoma after resection: A retrospective
comparative study
Version: 3 Date: 30 Apr 2022
Reviewer's report:
Dear authors,
I revised the paper entitled “Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization alone versus combined
with microwave ablation for recurrent small hepatocellular carcinoma after resection: A
retrospective comparative study”. It aims to compare both TACE alone and TACE-MWA in
management of small recurrent HCC post resection.
I have some comments:
1. Considering TACE is a palliative tool in management of HCC while the study involved small
HCC lesions less than 3 cm and less than 3 in number, I thought that the main proposed line
of management would be MWA and to compare it with MWA-TACE, rather than comparing
a palliative TACE line vs MWA-TACE. As expected, TACE alone had lower ablative rates
than MWA-TACE and I find that the main reason for successful results of MWA-TACE is the
presence of MWA than the effect of TACE.
2. Assessment of radiological response was 1 month post ablation. It was better to provide later
radiological response rates at 3 and 6 months post ablation.
3. The sample size is actually small.
4. Number of re-TACE sessions reached up to 7 and 9 sessions in both groups. This is truly
surprising if we consider the management of small recurrent HCC. Is there an explanation for
the very large number of sessions of TACE. This is more surprising in the MWA-TACE group.
Title: Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization alone versus combined with microwave
ablation for recurrent small hepatocellular carcinoma after resection: A retrospective
comparative study
Version: 3 Date: 30 Apr 2022
Reviewer's report:
Dear authors,
I revised the paper entitled “Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization alone versus combined
with microwave ablation for recurrent small hepatocellular carcinoma after resection: A
retrospective comparative study”. It aims to compare both TACE alone and TACE-MWA in
management of small recurrent HCC post resection.
I have some comments:
1. Considering TACE is a palliative tool in management of HCC while the study involved small
HCC lesions less than 3 cm and less than 3 in number, I thought that the main proposed line
of management would be MWA and to compare it with MWA-TACE, rather than comparing
a palliative TACE line vs MWA-TACE. As expected, TACE alone had lower ablative rates
than MWA-TACE and I find that the main reason for successful results of MWA-TACE is the
presence of MWA than the effect of TACE.
2. Assessment of radiological response was 1 month post ablation. It was better to provide later
radiological response rates at 3 and 6 months post ablation.
3. The sample size is actually small.
4. Number of re-TACE sessions reached up to 7 and 9 sessions in both groups. This is truly
surprising if we consider the management of small recurrent HCC. Is there an explanation for
the very large number of sessions of TACE. This is more surprising in the MWA-TACE group.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization alone versus combined with microwave
ablation for recurrent small hepatocellular carcinoma after resection: A retrospective
comparative study
Version: 3 Date: 30 Apr 2022
Reviewer's report:
Dear authors,
I revised the paper entitled “Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization alone versus combined
with microwave ablation for recurrent small hepatocellular carcinoma after resection: A
retrospective comparative study”. It aims to compare both TACE alone and TACE-MWA in
management of small recurrent HCC post resection.
I have some comments:
1. Considering TACE is a palliative tool in management of HCC while the study involved small
HCC lesions less than 3 cm and less than 3 in number, I thought that the main proposed line
of management would be MWA and to compare it with MWA-TACE, rather than comparing
a palliative TACE line vs MWA-TACE. As expected, TACE alone had lower ablative rates
than MWA-TACE and I find that the main reason for successful results of MWA-TACE is the
presence of MWA than the effect of TACE.
2. Assessment of radiological response was 1 month post ablation. It was better to provide later
radiological response rates at 3 and 6 months post ablation.
3. The sample size is actually small.
4. Number of re-TACE sessions reached up to 7 and 9 sessions in both groups. This is truly
surprising if we consider the management of small recurrent HCC. Is there an explanation for
the very large number of sessions of TACE. This is more surprising in the MWA-TACE group.
assistant