Objective      To explore the safety and efficacy of radiofrequency-assisted liver resection (RF-LR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with cirrhosis.       Methods      A retrospective study was performed on the patients treated with RF-LR (n=189) and clamp-crushing liver resection (CC-LR

n=197) in our hospital from January 1

2011 to December 31

2012. Clinical and follow-up data was compared between the 2 groups.       Results      No death occurred during the operation in the 2 groups. There were statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in operation time (241.3±79.7 vs 267.0±108 min

P=0.008)

blood loss (484.6±472.7 vs 770.1±973.6 mL

P=0.005)

blood transfusion rate (16.9% vs 33.0%

P=0.000) and proportion of first hepatic portal inflow occlusion (52.9% vs 65.5%

P=0.012). No statistically significant differences were found between the 2 groups in total complication rate (33.3% vs 28.9%

P=0.351)

mortality (4.8% vs 3.6%

P=0.552) and postoperative hospital stay (16.6±8.1 vs 17.1±8.4; P=0.591). The 1- and 3-year overall survival rates for RF-LR group and CC-LR were 76.6% vs 80.1% (P=0.765) and 49.5% vs 58.1% (P=0.580)

respectively. Accordingly

the 1- and 3-year disease-free survival rates were 50.1% vs 56.4% (P=0.501) and 37.6% vs 42.1% (P=0.421) with no statistically significant differences between the groups.       Conclusion      RF-LR is safe and effective for HCC patients with cirrhosis.