Objective To investigate the effect of radiofrequency ablation(RFA) in the treatment of small liver cancer.Methods In recent 6 years,130 patients with primary or secondary liver cancer(≤5cm in diameter)were treated by RFA,among which 86 cases were primary,and 44 cases were secondary liver cancer.Among the 130 cases,18 received RFA plus TAEC,and 20 had RFA combined with PEI.Results Overall 1-and 3-year survival rate was 91.3% and 77.7% respectively.Complications occurred in 7 cases,including biliary fistula,intestinal fistula,and slight burn of skin.There was no death in this series.Conclusions RFA is an effective and safe therapeutic approach for small liver cancer ≤5cm in diameter.Its effect may be similar to that of surgical resection.