Prognostic value of lymphatic vessel density in the capsule of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma: implications for postoperative recurrence risk

Key Points

• Worse overall survival and recurrence-free survival correlate with high lymphatic vessel density in tumor capsules.
• Patients with higher lymphatic vessel density also show increased intrahepatic spread indicated by microvascular invasion and satellite nodules.
• Observational analysis looks at lymphatic vessel density in the tumor capsule of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma post-liver resection.
• This finding supports the use of lymphatic vessel density as a predictive factor in managing early-stage HCC and informing treatment choices.