Postoperative circulating tumor cells: An early predictor of extrahepatic metastases in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing curative surgical resection.

A postoperative CTC count ≥3 appears to be a surrogate marker for the prediction of EHM after curative surgical resection of HCC. More careful surveillance should be recommended to patients with a high CTC load to ensure the greater possibility of early interventions for postoperative EHM.