Li X, et al. - A literature search without a language restriction of 10 studies with 1,570 patients was conducted by the experts in order to contrast the benefits of laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH) with that of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide due to its highly malignant nature). In terms of the 5-year overall survival rate, LH was observed as superior to RFA. In comparison to the RFA group, a significantly better 5-year overall survival rate in the LH group was noted. One and 3-year disease-free survival rate and a lower local recurrence rate were ascertained in the LH group as that of the RFA group. But, the LH group had a greater complication rate than the RFA group. Hence, a better long-term prognosis and a minute recurrence rate were noticed in patients who received LH. However, no final evidence for the advantage of LH over RFA for the treatment of HCCs could be achieved because of the inclusion of retrospective studies in the present meta-analysis. Therefore, well-designed randomized controlled trials are required.