Background/aims: There is scare information regarding tumor pressure in hepatocellular carcinoma. As the tumor diameter increases, histological manifestations become more diverse. Therefore, studies based on relatively small tumors are needed in order to search for those underlying factors that are directly related to tumor pressure in hepatocellular carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to determine which factors regulate tumor pressure in cases of hepatocellular carcinoma where the diameter of the tumor is 3cm or less.
Methodology: The study included 54 patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma in whom tumor pressure had been determined and in whom the tumor had been confirmed histologically. Tumor pressure was determined percutaneously under ultrasonographic guidance.
Results: Hepatic tissue pressure (p = 0.01), tumor size (p < 0.01), number of tumors (p = 0.01), degree of tumor differentiation (p < 0.01), ultrasonographic halo (p < 0.01), angiographic tumor staining (p < 0.01) and angiographic tumor vessel (p = 0.03) all showed significant correlation with tumor pressure. Multivariate analysis revealed that angiographic tumor staining (p = 0.001), hepatic tissue pressure (p = 0.013), and tumor size (p = 0.044) were significant factors associated with tumor pressure.
Conclusions: It was suggested that tumor pressure in small hepatocellular carcinoma was mainly regulated through development of the neovasculature.