Early recurrence risk stratification of hepatocellular carcinoma receiving preoperative radiotherapy: Incorporating clinical and imaging features across treatment phases

BACKGROUND There are still large variations in survival among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who received preoperative radiotherapy (RT), necessitating early recurrence (ER) risk stratification for decision-making and more appropriate management of patients. AIM To develop prognostic models integrating magnetic resonance imaging features and clinico-therapeutic-pathological variables across the treatment phases for predicting postoperative ER of HCC patients receiving preoperative