Efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with microwave ablation for hepatic hemangiomas (> 5 cm)

Table 5 Post-treatment tumor response and follow-up outcomes

Variable	All (n = 82)	Control group (n = 32)	Observation group (n = 50)	P value1
Longest tumor diameter at 1 month	7.0 (5.2-8.2)	6.2 (5.9-9.0)	7.0 (4.95-7.95)	0.70
Longest tumor diameter at 6 months	4.4 (3.2-7.0)	7.5 (4.6-8.9)	4.1 (3.1-6.0)	< 0.05a
Longest tumor diameter at 12 months	4.05 (2.8-6.6)	6.6 (3.5-7.1)	3.7 (2.6-5.2)	< 0.05a
Tumor reduction ratio (%)	46.16 (26.48-58.73)	23.28 (17.5-47.27)	50.98 (37.5-61.8)	< 0.001c
RECIST				< 0.001c
CR	4/51 (7.84%)	1/18 (5.56%)	3/33 (9.09%)
PR	33/51 (64.71%)	5/18 (27.78%)	28/33 (84.85%)
SD	14/51 (27.45%)	12/18 (66.67%)	2/33 (6.06%)
PD	0	0	0
ORR2	37/51 (72.55%)	6/18 (33.33%)	31/33 (93.94%)
Longest tumor diameter at 1-3 years (n = 38)3	3.2 (0.5-5.8)	4.5 (3.5-7.9)	2.8 (0-4)	< 0.05a
RECIST				< 0.01b
CR	7/38 (18.42%)	1/12 (8.33%)	6/26 (23.08%)
PR	24/38 (63.16%)	5/12 (41.67%)	19/26 (73.08%)
SD	6/38 (15.79%)	5/12 (41.67%)	1/26 (3.85%)
PD	1/38 (2.63%)	1/12 (8.33%)	0
ORR2	31/38 (81.58%)	6/12 (50%)	25/26 (96.15%)
Longest tumor diameter at > 3 years (n = 29)3	3.6 (2-5.5)	4.6 (2.05-7.95)	3 (0-4)	0.29
RECIST				0.059
CR	5/29 (17.24%)	1/9 (11.11%)	4/20 (20.00%)
PR	21/29 (72.41%)	5/9 (55.56%)	16/20 (80.00%)
SD	2/29 (6.90%)	2/9 (22.22%)	0
PD	1/29 (3.45%)	1/9 (11.11%)	0
ORR2	26/29 (89.66%)	6/9 (66.67%)	20/20 (100.00%)

^aP < 0.05.

^bP < 0.01.

^cP < 0.001.

¹P values were calculated using the χ² test or independent samples t-test, as appropriate. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

²The objective response rate is defined as the sum of the complete response and partial response.

³At 1-3 years: n = 38 (control group: n = 12; observation group: n = 26); at > 3 years: n = 29 (control group: n = 9; observation group: n = 20). Postoperative follow-up data were primarily collected through enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, while other data were obtained through telephone follow-ups or outpatient visits.

CR: Complete response; ORR: Objective response rate; PD: Progressive disease; PR: Partial response; RECIST: Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors; SD: Stable disease.