Grading severity of MVI impacts long-term outcomes after laparoscopic liver resection for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma: A multicenter study

Purpose: To examine the relationship between microvascular invasion (MVI) grading severity and long-term outcomes in early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing laparoscopic liver resection (LLR). Methods: Patients who had LLR for early-stage HCC were enrolled. According to the grading severity of MVI, patients were classified into M0, M1 and M2. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) among the groups were compared. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors of OS and RFS. Results: Among 233 patients, MVI grading as M0, M1, and M2 accounts for 122 (52.4 %), 84 (36 %), and 27 (11.6 %) patients, respectively. The median OS and RFS in patients with M0, M1, and M2 were 84.9, 40.1, and 25.2 months; and 76.9, 27.0, and 18.8 months, respectively. Multivariable analyses identified both M1 and M2 to be independent risk factors for OS and RFS. Conclusion: Grading severity of MVI was independently associated with RFS and OS after LLR for early-stage HCC. Patients with MVI, especially those with M2, should receive stringent recurrence surveillance and active adjuvant therapy.