Anatomical versus non‐anatomical resection for hepatocellular carcinoma. BJS 2015; 102: 776-784.

Results

Some 1102 patients were included, 577 in the anatomical and 525 in the non‐anatomical resection group. By propensity score matching, 329 patients were selected into each group. Demographic, preoperative and tumour variables were similar between the propensity score‐matched groups, including tumour size, tumour multiplicity, α‐fetoprotein level and 15‐min indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min. The incidence of microvascular invasion was higher in the matched anatomical resection group (P = 0·048). Stratified analysis of recurrence‐free and overall survival rates revealed no statistically significant differences between the two propensity score‐matched groups (P = 0·704 and P = 0·381 respectively). There was also no significant difference in the early recurrence rate within 2 years after resection between these groups (P = 0·726). Subset analysis of the early recurrence‐free survival rate in patients with and without microvascular invasion revealed no significant differences between the groups (P = 0·312 and P = 0·479 respectively).