Objective To investigate the postoperative recurrence and risk factors of patients with liver cancer after radical resection.

Methods The clinical data of 304 patients with liver cancer after radical resection who were treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from January 2019 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, the patients were divided into recurrence group and non-recurrence group according to whether they recurred within 1 year of follow-up. The recurrence conditions of patients with liver cancer after radical resection were recorded, and the risk factors of recurrence of patients with liver cancer after radical resection were analyzed by univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis.

Results Of 304 patients with liver cancer after radical resection, 61 cases recurred within 1 year of follow-up, and the recurrence rate was 20.07%. There were significant differences between the recurrence group and the non-recurrence group in terms of tumor diameter, the number of tumors, existence of tumor capsular infiltration and vascular invasion, tumor capsule, andpreoperative level of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (P < 0.05). The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that tumor diameter ≥5 cm, the number of tumors ≥2, tumor capsule invasion, vascular invasion, incomplete tumor capsule, and preoperative level of serum AFP ≥400 ng/mL were all independent risk factors for recurrence of patients with liver cancer after radical resection (OR=3.411, 3.313, 3.834, 4.092, 3.235, 3.408, P < 0.05).

Conclusion The recurrence rate of patients after radical resection of liver cancer is high, and its risk factors include tumor diameter ≥ 5 cm, the number of tumors ≥ 2, tumor capsule invasion, vascular invasion, incomplete tumor capsule and preoperative level of serum AFP ≥ 400 ng/mL, etc., clinical treatment and intervention could be carried out for patients with the above characteristics to prevent the recurrence of patients with liver cancer after radical resection.