Abstract: Objective :To determine the changes of the quality of life(QOL)in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)before and after radiofrequency ablation(RFA),and to analyze the preoperative self-assessment and the relationship between the QOL scores and the disease-free survival. Methods :A time-point inquiry was conducted in 31 consecutive HCC patients using a Chinese QOL questionnaire for HCC(QOL-LC V2.0).The difference of diseased-free survival between the high and low baseline QOL group was analyzed. Results :Physical domain score and global QOL score increased after RFA and were higher than the pre-therapy level at the second and third month.The symptom or side effect domain score improved at the second assessment point and remained constant between the second and the third assessment point.Psychological domain score increased at the second assessment point,but deteriorated at the third assessment point,however,was still higher than the level before RFA.Self-rating score followed a similar pattern with that of psychological domain.The disease-free survival was higher in patients with a preoperative physical domain score of 45 or more than in patient with a preoperative physical domain score of 45 or less.Similarly,The disease-free survival was higher in patients with a preoperative self-rating score of 70 or more than in patient with a preoperative physical domain score of 70 or less. Conclusion :Within 1 to 3 months after RFA therapy,the scores of QOL and body function domain present a rising tendency,but the self-assessment and the mental status descend at the 3rd month? the patients,whose score of body function before therapy is equal to or less than 45 and the self-assessment score is equal to or less than 70,also the patients,whose post-treatment scores of self-assessment descend,should be vigilant to the possibility of recurrence or neoplasm.