Abstract: Objective To evaluate the effect of microvascular invasion (MVI) on recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after radical resection.Methods There were 104 patients (72 males and 32 females) diagnosed with HCC by pathology after radical resection in our hospital from January 2014 to December 2018, with an average age of (52.3 ± 9.0) years. According to prognosis, the patients were divided into recurrence group and non-recurrence group. Univariate analysis was used to figure out factors with significant differences between the 2 groups, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the predictive factors of recurrence in HCC patients.Results There were 46 HCC patients in recurrence group and 58 in non-recurrence group. There were statistical differences in sex compositions, the incidence of > 5 cm tumor, the rates of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) > 400 μg/L and total bilirubin (TBil) > 17 mol/l, and the incidence of MVI between 2 groups (all P<0.05). Specifically, there were 40 (87.0%) and 32 (55.2%) cases of male (Z=12.166), 27 cases (58.7%) and 14 cases (24.1%) with tumor diameter > 5 cm (Z=12.829), 16 cases (34.8%) and 5 cases (8.6%) with AFP > 400 μg/L (Z=10.896), 17 cases (37.0%) and 10 cases (17.2%) with TBIL > 17 mol/L(Z=5.188), 29 cases (63.0%) and 13 cases (22.4%) of MVI (Z=17.590) in recurrence and non-recurrence groups, respectively. The age, liver cirrhosis, alanine aminotransferase > 40 U/L, albumin > 35 g/L, HBsAg and HBeAg were also significantly different between the 2 groups (P>0.05). The multivariate logistic regression model showed that tumor diameter > 5 cm, AFP > 400 μg/L and MVI were independent risk factors for recurrence of HCC.Conclusion Tumor diameter, AFP level and MVI are independent predictors for recurrence in HCC patients after radical resection, and can be used as evaluation indicators for postoperative treatment.

Key words: Hepatocellular carcinoma, Microvascular invasion, Logistic regression analysis