Validated preoperative computed tomography risk estimation for postoperative hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary surgery
• Surgical oncology
• Diagnostic imaging

Background:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent malignancy with a significant recurrence rate after curative resection.
• Accurate prediction of tumor recurrence is crucial for patient management and treatment planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a risk estimation model for predicting tumor recurrence in operable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following curative resection.
• To identify imaging and histopathological predictors of HCC recurrence.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 128 patients with operable HCC who underwent preoperative computed tomography (CT) evaluation.
• Correlation of preoperative multiphasic CT findings, surgical histopathology, and serum markers with postoperative recurrence data.
• Statistical analysis using the chi-squared test, independent t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test.

Main Results:

• Postoperative HCC recurrence was observed in 29.7% of patients.
• Microvascular invasion (MVI) was a significant predictor of recurrence (P < 0.001).
• Non-smooth tumor margins, incomplete tumor capsules, and missing tumor capsules on CT were associated with increased recurrence risk (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Computed tomography (CT) can predict HCC recurrence following curative resection.
• CT-assessed tumor margin characteristics and capsule visualization are valuable in risk stratification for HCC recurrence.