Identification of two HCC phenotypes based on thrombocytopenia.
e14720 Background: Clinical phenotypes of small and larger HCCs are not well characterized. Aims. To characterize small HCC phenotypes. Methods: A cohort of 430 small HCCs that were diagnosed through screening, were dichotomized by size of < 3cm or > 3cm maximum tumor diameter and compared for radiologic and blood test parameters and analyzed by Chi-square test for categorical variables and Mann-Whitney test for continuous variables. Results: Significant differences between the tumor size groups included AFP values and platelet counts, with thrombocytopenia and elevated bilirubin levels being associated with smaller tumors. In comparing PVT+ and PVT- patients, AFP levels and platelet counts were also significantly different between the 2 groups. Conclusions: Larger tumors were associated with normal platelets and bilirubin levels, compared to smaller tumors that were more typically found in the presence of thrombocytopenia, suggesting that smaller and larger HCCs might have different developmental pathways.