In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with cirrhosis, portal hypertension worsens outcomes. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), the current screening method for esophageal varices (EVs), is invasive and may delay therapy. We aimed to develop and externally validate non-invasive models to detect EVs and predict hepatic decompensation (bleeding, ascites or hepatic encephalopathy), a major cause of mortality in patients with HCC, using routine contrast-enhanced CT and clinical data.
Journal of Hepatology published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 10 Feb 2026.
The item focuses on Detection of esophageal varices and prediction of hepatic decompensation in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma using AI.
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