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7/17/2026 8:23:30 AM | Browse: 2 | Download: 0
Publication Name World Journal of Gastroenterology
Manuscript ID 116653
Country Italy
Received
2025-11-17 02:33
Peer-Review Started
2025-11-17 02:33
First Decision by Editorial Office Director
2025-12-30 07:37
Return for Revision
2025-12-30 07:37
Revised
2025-12-30 09:48
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor
2026-01-29 02:33
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director
2026-01-29 07:20
Articles in Press
2026-01-29 07:20
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript
2026-07-13 01:07
Publish the Manuscript Online
2026-07-17 08:23
ISSN 1007-9327 (print) and 2219-2840 (online)
Open Access This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Copyright © The Author(s) 2026. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Article Reprints For details, please visit: http://www.wjgnet.com/bpg/gerinfo/247
Permissions For details, please visit: http://www.wjgnet.com/bpg/gerinfo/207
Publisher Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
Website http://www.wjgnet.com
Category Oncology
Manuscript Type Editorial
Article Title Small tumors, big decisions: Rethinking resection and ablation in early hepatocellular carcinoma
Manuscript Source Invited Manuscript
All Author List Marcello Maestri and Ottavia Cicerone
ORCID
Author(s) ORCID Number
Marcello Maestri http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5693-9151
Ottavia Cicerone http://orcid.org/0009-0004-9712-2553
Funding Agency and Grant Number
Corresponding Author Marcello Maestri, MD, PhD, Professor, General Surgery Unit I - Liver Service, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, P.le Golgi 19, Pavia 27100, Italy. m.maestri@smatteo.pv.it
Key Words Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver resection; Radiofrequency ablation; Therapeutic hierarchy; Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer; Local ablation
Core Tip Early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is typically managed with resection or local ablation, yet growing evidence shows that resection provides superior long-term oncologic outcomes whenever feasible. Modern ablative technologies—no-touch RFA, microwave ablation, and fusion-imaging guidance—have improved local control but do not surpass the curative potential of anatomical resection. The limitations of the BCLC staging system highlight the need for individualized decision-making. The therapeutic hierarchy, ranking treatments by intrinsic curative power, offers a dynamic, patient-centered framework better aligned with contemporary practice. Selecting the highest feasible therapy for each patient ensures the best outcomes in early-stage HCC.
Publish Date 2026-07-17 08:23
Citation

Maestri M, Cicerone O. Small tumors, big decisions: Rethinking resection and ablation in early hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2026; 32(29): 116653

URL https://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/full/v32/i29/116653.htm
DOI https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.116653
Full Article (PDF) WJG-32-116653-with-cover.pdf
Manuscript File 116653_Auto_Edited_020940.docx
Answering Reviewers 116653-answering-reviewers.pdf
Audio Core Tip 116653-audio.mp3
Conflict-of-Interest Disclosure Form 116653-conflict-of-interest-statement.pdf
Copyright License Agreement 116653-copyright-assignment.pdf
Non-Native Speakers of English Editing Certificate 116653-non-native-speakers.pdf
Peer-review Report 116653-peer-reviews.pdf
Scientific Misconduct Check 116653-scientific-misconduct-check.png
Scientific Editor Work List 116653-scientific-editor-work-list.pdf
CrossCheck Report 116653-crosscheck-report.pdf