Imaging and histological features of tumor biopsy sample predict aggressive intrasegmental recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after radiofrequency ablation

Aggressive intrasegmental recurrence (AIR) is a form of local recurrence associated with a dismal prognosis and defined by multiple nodules or by an infiltrative mass with a tumor thrombus, occurring in the treated segment, after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to identify radiological and/or histological characteristics of tumor biopsy predictive of AIR. We retrospectively analyzed patients treated by No-Touch multi-bipolar RFA (mbpRFA) for a first HCC with a systematic per-procedural tumor biopsy positive for diagnosis of HCC. The first recurrence was classified as non-aggressive local recurrence, AIR or intrahepatic distant recurrence. 212 patients were included (168 men; mean age 67.1 years; mean tumor size 28.6 mm, 181 cirrhosis). AIR occurred in 21/212 patients (10%) and was associated with a higher risk of death (57% in patients with AIR vs 30% without AIR, p = 0.0001). Non-smooth tumor margins, observed in 21% of the patients and macro-trabecular massive histological subtype, observed in 12% of the patients were independently related to a higher risk of AIR (HR: 3.7[1.57;9.06], p = 0.002 and HR:3.8[2.47;10], p = 0.005 respectively). Non smooth margins at imaging and macro-trabecular massive histological subtype are associated with AIR and could be considered as aggressive features useful to stratify therapeutic strategy.