ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: We studied the patterns of recurrence after resection of relatively small hepatocellular carcinoma, defined as less than 5 cm in diameter, with tumor-free margin, and risk factor for recurrence were re-evaluated for these group. METHODS: The subjects were 25 patients who had undergone tumor removal with tumor-free margin for hepatocellular carcinoma at our department from 1995 to 1998. Tumor-free survival rates of patients with various risk factors were calculated and differences between groups were evaluated. RESULTS: The tumors recurred in 17 patients (68.0%), with 11 patients (64.7% of recurrences) recurring within 1 year of surgery. Recurrent disease was nearly intrahepatic. Univariate retrospective analysis in this study showed the absence of tumor capsule to be significant risk factor. But there is no significant difference in survival rate between capsule (+) groups and capsule (-) groups. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that small hepatocellular carcinoma has no significant difference in clinicopathologic variables except tumor capsule.