Resumen
Hepatocellular carcinoma has the characteristics of angiogenesis and neovascularization, which are the main steps in tumor growth and metastasis. The Vessels that encapsulate tumor clusters (VETC) pattern is a unique vascular structure in hepatocellular carcinoma. Microscopically, each tumor cluster is encapsulated by sinusoid-like vessels that form cobweb-like networks. Here, we retrospectively investigated the clinical?pathological features of hepatocellular carcinoma patients with or without the VETC pattern. We found that the VETC pattern is an independent factor of poor prognosis for long-term oncological outcomes. Meanwhile, higher intra-tumoral microvessel density was significantly associated with the VETC pattern. Further studies are needed to validate our findings.