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Vascular microinvasion from hepatocellular carcinoma: CT findings and pathologic correlation for the best therapeutic strategies

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Abstract

Recurrence of HCC reduces survival rates in patients treated with surgery, and one of the most relevant risk factors for tumour recurrence is microvascular invasion (mVI). The identification of mVI on preoperative examinations could improve surgical planning’s and techniques so as to reduce the risk of tumour recurrence. During our study, we have revised 101 CT examinations of the liver performed on patients diagnosed with solitary HCC who had surgical treatment and pathological analysis of the specimens for mVI in order to detect CT signs which could be reliable in mVI prediction. On CT examinations, the tumours were evaluated for margins, capsule, size, contrast enhancement, halo sign and Thad. From our statistical analysis, we found out that irregularity in tumour margins and defects in peritumoural capsule are the most significant characteristics predicting mVI in HCC. Every report on CT examinations performed on surgical candidate patients should include suggestions about mVI probability in order to tailor procedures, reduce tumour recurrence risk and improve survival rates.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy

    Alfonso Reginelli, Nicola Serra, Antonio Raucci, Fabrizio Urraro & Salvatore Cappabianca

  2. Niguarda Cancer Center - ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano, University of Milano, Niguarda, Milan, Italy

    Angelo Vanzulli, Cristiano Sgrazzutti & Luca Caschera

Authors
  1. Alfonso Reginelli
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  2. Angelo Vanzulli
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  3. Cristiano Sgrazzutti
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  4. Luca Caschera
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  5. Nicola Serra
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  6. Antonio Raucci
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  7. Fabrizio Urraro
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  8. Salvatore Cappabianca
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Correspondence to Alfonso Reginelli.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Reginelli, A., Vanzulli, A., Sgrazzutti, C. et al. Vascular microinvasion from hepatocellular carcinoma: CT findings and pathologic correlation for the best therapeutic strategies. Med Oncol 34, 93 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-017-0949-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-017-0949-7

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