Effect of Microvascular Invasion Risk on Early Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Surgery and Radiofrequency Ablation

OBJECTIVE:We compared surgical resection (SR) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as first-line treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on the risk of microvascular invasion (MVI). BACKGROUND:The best curative treatment modality between SR and RFA in patients with HCC with MVI remains unclear. METHODS:Data from 2 academic cancer center-based cohorts of patients with a single, small (≤3 cm) HCC who underwent SR were used to derive (n = 276) and validate (n = 101) prediction models for MVI using clinical and imaging variables. The MVI prediction model was developed using multivariable logistic regression analysis and externally validated. Early recurrence (