Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common disease in the world and Vietnam. Nowadays, there are many methods of treatment for HCC. Aims: to assess the efficacy and safety of transarterial oily chemoembolization (TOCE) combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Patients and methods: 121 HCC patients (at the mean age of 58.9 + or - 11.2
male/female 7/1)) with 137 tumors ranging in size from 3.1 cm to 8.0 cm in largest diameter were treated by TOCE followed by ultrasoundguided RFA after 5 days. In which, there were 82 tumors (ranging in size from 3.1 cm to 5.0 cm) treated by only one procedure of RFA (with the mean time of procedure of 18.2 + or - 4.5 minutes) and 55 tumors (ranging in size from 5.l cm to 8.0 cm) treated by 2 consecutive procedures of RFA (interval: 3 days, with the mean time of procedure of 45.9 + or - 4.9 minutes). End points included complete tumor response rate, tumor size shrunk rate, local recurrent rate and complications. Results: The complete response rate affer 1 month of treatment was 76.6 percent. The tumor shrunk rate after 3 months of treatment was 70.2 percent. There were 21 patients (4.1 percent) having mild complications after RFA treatment and no case of severe complications. The local recurrent rate was 17.4 percent during the time of 27 month follow-up. Conclussions: Chemoembolization combined with RFA is safe and effective for the treatment of cirrhotic patients with unresectable HCC.