Interpretation of expert consensus on clinical application of vessels encapsulating tumor clusters in the diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (2026 edition)

doi:10.3877/cma.j.issn.2095-2015.2026.04.001

Abstract

Abstract:

Vessels encapsulating tumor clusters (VETC) represent a unique tumor vascular pattern in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and are closely associated with high recurrence rates and poor survival outcomes. In recent years, significant progress has been made in research on VETC in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC; however, there remains a lack of unified clinical application standards internationally. In 2026, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, in collaboration with multidisciplinary experts in imaging, hepatobiliary surgery, interventional medicine, oncology, and pathology from multiple domestic hospitals, formulated the Chinese expert consensus on clinical application of vessels encapsulating tumor clusters in the diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (2026 edition) based on evidence-based medicine. This consensus provides systematic specifications for the pathological diagnosis, specimen sampling, imaging evaluation, and treatment decision-making of VETC. This article systematically interprets the core contents of the consensus in light of relevant research progress both domestically and internationally.

Key words: Hepatocellular carcinoma, Vessels encapsulating tumor clusters, Interpretation of expert consensus

Ling Zhang, Huilin Chen, Ningyang Jia. Interpretation of expert consensus on clinical application of vessels encapsulating tumor clusters in the diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (2026 edition)[J]. Chinese Journal of Digestion and Medical Imageology(Electronic Edition), 2026, 16(04): 289-293.

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