Risk factors and patterns of early recurrence after curative hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often recurs after curative hepatectomy; and early recurrence after hepatectomy (ERAH) is associated with poor prognosis. This study aimed to clarify risk factors and disease patterns for ERAH. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinicopathological factors of 232 patients who underwent initial curative hepatectomies for HCC between April 2000 and March 2013, and examined associated risk factors and early recurrence patterns by liver function status (as indicated by indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min [ICGR15]). Results Patients who experienced recurrence within 6 months after hepatectomy (i.e., ERAH) had significantly shorter survival than those with longer disease-free intervals ( P