Simultaneous versus Sequential Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization Combined with Microwave Ablation for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Retrospective Propensity Score–Matched Analysis

After propensity scoring, we screened 76 liver cancer patients who received transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with microwave ablation treatment, including a simultaneous treatment group of 36 cases and a sequential treatment group of 40 cases. Simultaneous TACE and MWA combination therapy is usually completed in the first hospital cycle with treatment intervals of 1–3 days. Patients in the sequential treatment group usually undergo 1–3 palliative TACE treatments before microwave ablation. These raw data include patient age, gender, tumor characteristics, liver function before and after treatment, short-term tumor response, as well as time to progression and overall survival time.