The pathological basis of resection margin for hepatocellular carcinoma

At the time of hepatectomy for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the necessary amount of surrounding nontumorous liver to be sacrificed, or the resection margin, which will ensure a complete histologic disease clearance is uncertain. Twenty-three resected liver specimens were studied by serial section followed by histological examination prospectively. All histologic diseases identified were assumed to spread radially in all directions from a unicentric lesion. Histologic disease from capsular and liver invasion was found confined to the immediate surrounding liver parenchyma. Eleven of the 14 large (≥5 cm) tumors and all six small (