Impact of Visceral Obesity on Microvascular Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background. Our objective was to determine whether visceral obesity is associated with increased microvascular invasion (MVI) in patients surgically treated for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods. Data were collected retrospectively in a series of 79 patients treated by surgical resection for HCC, using CT-scan for evaluation of visceral obesity. Results. There was no significant association between visceral obesity and MVI (OR = 1.20 (0.38-3.75), p = 0.75). Independent predictive factors of MVI were moderate/poor differentiation, tumor size above 50 mm and underlying cirrhosis. Conclusion. This study did not support the hypothesis that visceral obesity might promote MVI in patients with HCC.