Total bilirubin (p = 0.123), prothrombin time (international normalized ratio (INR)) (p = 0.092), serum platelet count (p = 0.102), AFP levels [log(AFP)] (p < 0.001), sex (p = 0.079), cause of liver disease (p = 0.023), periportal vein tumor location (p = 0.013), washout appearance (p = 0.112), enhancing capsule (p = 0.070), LI-RADS score (p = 0.006), and non-smooth tumor margin (p = 0.064) varied between the TACE + RFA and RFA groups with p < 0.15, and these variables were selected for PS matching. Here, AFP is linked to neoplasm.