Abstract: Objective To investigate the predictive value of preoperative CT signs combined with α-fetoprotein (AFP) in early postoperative recurrence of solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods The patients with solitary HCC admitted to Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital from June 2015 to May 2017 were selected as the study subjects, and clinical data and CT signs were collected. The early recurrence factors were analyzed by logistic regression and the predictive model was established. The efficacy of preoperative CT signs in predicting early recurrence was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results Among 194 patients with solitary HCC, 104 patients had early postoperative recurrence. The high AFP level (OR=1.900, 95%CI: 1.008-3.581, P=0.047), non-smooth tumor margins (OR=2.095, 95%CI: 1.078-4.072, P=0.029) and intratumoral vessels in arterial phase (OR=2.374, 95%CI: 1.186-4.754, P=0.015) were independent predictors of early recurrence of solitary HCC. The area under the ROC curve of preoperative CT signs with non-smooth tumor margins and intratumoral vessels combined with AFP in predicting early recurrence of solitary HCC was 0.725 (95%CI: 0.656-0.786), with a sensitivity of 65.4% and a specificity of 68.9%. Conclusions Preoperative CT signs combined with AFP have certain value in predicting the early recurrence of solitary HCC.

Key words: Solitary hepatocellular carcinoma, α-fetoprotein, CT signs, Early recurrence