title: Risk factors for microvascular tumour thrombi in hepatocellular carcinoma: a univariate and multivariate analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Microvascular tumour thrombi in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) predict poor outcome and are a risk factor for intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastases. Survival after liver transplantation is also affected. Our aim was to predict the risk factors for the presence of microvascular tumour thrombi.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-six patients who had undergone hepatectomy for HCC in our hospital were included in a retrospective analysis from a prospective database.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-one patients (40.8%; mean age 50.7 +/- 12.2 years, P < 0.021) had microvascular tumour thrombi (group T) and 54 patients (group NT; mean age 58.6 +/- 15.4 years) did not. Using logistic regression analysis, we found that more than one HCC nodule, a large tumour, chronic hepatitis C infection and high serum aspartate aminotransferaselevels were significant risk factors for microvascular tumour thrombi. Age, preoperative serum bilirubin level and sex were not significant risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with chronic hepatitis C infection having multiple HCC nodules, large tumour size and high preoperative aspartate aminotransferase levels are at high risk for microvascular tumour thrombi.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Changi General Hospital, Singapore. salleh_ibrahim@cgh.com.sg
authors.forename: Salleh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Anupama
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roychowdhury
authors.forename: Tay Khoon
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Hean
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases