Comparison of radiofrequency ablation and ablative external radiotherapy for the treatment of intrahepatic malignancies: A hybrid meta-analysis

•RFA is the most widely used non-surgical local modality for the treatment of small intrahepatic malignancies.•Ablative RT yields a curative effect by focusing high doses on small targets using computerised planning.•Ablative RT was associated with superior local control and overall survival compared to RFA.•RT could be more effective than RFA for tumours larger than 2–3 cm or for specific sublocations in the liver.