Preoperative computed tomography and serum α-fetoprotein to predict microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma

To determine the diagnostic value of computed tomography (CT) for prediction of microvascular invasion (MVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Preoperative CTs for 160 patients with 57 MVI-positive and 103 MVI-negative HCCs diagnosed by surgical pathology were reviewed retrospectively. CT parameters and serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) level were analyzed in SPSS 16.0. Although univariate analysis showed that tumor size (P = .012), grade (Z = −2.114, P = .034), and peritumoral enhancement (χ(2) = 4.464, P = .035) were associated with MVI, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that capsular invasion (odds ratio [OR] = 23.469, P < .001), margins (OR = 6.751, P < .001), and serum AFP level (OR = 1.001, P = .038) were associated with MVI in HCC (P < .05). Radiographic hepatic capsular invasion and nonsmooth tumor margins identified by preoperative CT images, along with AFP levels greater than 232.2 ng/mL, are important predictors of MVI.