Objective To observe the efficacy of percutaneous hepatic cryoablation for the treatment of primary or meta-static hepatic malignancies (<5 cm in diameter).Methods A total of 31 patients (39 tumors <5 cm in diameter) were treated with argon-helium cryoablation system under the guidance of CT or ultrasound.Results Tumor ablation range was 90%-100% in 39 lesions,including 69.23% (27/39) complete ablation.The 1- and 2-year survival rate was 90.32% (28/31) and 61.29% (19/31),respectively.No bleeding and injury of blood vessel or bile duct was noted.Complications of cryoablation included intraoperative shivering in 4 (12.90%) patients,postoperative fever (37.12-38.25℃ in 7 (22.58%) patients and hepatic pain in 6 (19.36%) patients.One patient had severe pain relief until 2 h after cryosurgery with ice-cold skin temperature and stable life index,analgesic had little effect,and no bleeding was found on CT image.Other patients had slight or moderate pain and remained untreated.Conclusion Percutaneous targeted argon-helium cryoablation is a feasible and safe technique in the treatment of small primary or metastatic hepatic malignancies not suitable for resection.