PLAT was as effective as surgical resection in the treatment of solitary and small HCC. PLAT had the advantage over surgical resection in being less invasive.

For macroscopically solitary HCC, a resection margin aiming grossly at 2 cm efficaciously and safely decreased postoperative recurrence rate and improved survival outcomes when compared with a gross resection margin aiming at 1 cm, especially for HCC < or =2 cm.

PRFA was as effective as repeat hepatectomy in the treatment of recurrent small HCC. PRFA had the advantage over repeat hepatectomy in being less invasive.

HCC in the elderly was less HBV-associated, less advanced, and less aggressive. Hepatectomy for selected elderly patients with HCC possibly have a better curative effect compared with younger patients. For the elderly patients without preoperative comorbidities or with controlled comorbidities, hepatectomy is a safe and effective treatment. pTNM staging is the only independent predictor of postoperative overall survival in elderly HCC patients.