Tom Reeve Academic Surgical Clinic · St Leonards
Research · HCC
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary liver cancer in adults. Thomas J. Hugh publishes on HCC symptoms, resection beyond Barcelona Clinic guidelines, and liver cancer surgery Australia pathways from Sydney alongside global collaborators.
This page explains hepatocellular carcinoma in plain language, alongside peer-reviewed work by Thomas J. Hugh and colleagues.
Plain-language patient guide→Hugh's 2002 ANZ Journal of Surgery work on I-131 Lipiodol for unresectable HCC reflects decades of liver cancer treatment evolution in Australia.
Tom Hugh now emphasises curative resection or ablation when staging allows.
GPs managing hepatitis and cirrhosis remain central to hepatocellular carcinoma Australia screening programmes.
Schlichtemeier et al. (2016), with Hugh TJ, published an Australian model predicting microvascular invasion before HCC resection.
International multi-institutional analyses co-authored by Hugh (2019 to 2020) examined BCLC staging, textbook outcomes, and cure fractions after resection.
| Stage (simplified) | Typical approach |
|---|---|
| Very early / early | Resection, ablation, or transplant in selected cirrhosis |
| Intermediate | Embolization, systemic therapy, consider downstaging |
| Advanced | Systemic therapy and supportive care |
Tsilimigras and colleagues, with Hugh T, reported on margin width, early versus late recurrence, and tumour burden scores after hepatectomy.
Ruzzenente et al. (2020) compared minimally invasive versus open liver resection for HCC with portal hypertension, informing surgical approach discussions.
When transplant is the better option, Hugh refers to designated liver transplant services rather than attempting suboptimal resection.
Utilizing Machine Learning for Pre- and Postoperative Assessment of Patients Undergoing Resection for BCLC-0, A and B Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Implications for Resection Beyond the BCLC Guidelines
Tsilimigras D, Mehta R, Moris D, Sahara K, Bagante F, Paredes A, Farooq A, Ratti F, Marques H, Silva S, Hugh T, et al
Annals of Surgical Oncology, 2020
Long-term outcomes after curative resection of HCV-positive versus non-hepatitis related hepatocellular carcinoma: an international multi-institutional analysis
Wei T, Zhang XF, Bagante F, Ratti F, Marques HP, Soubrane O, Lam V, Poultsides GA, Popescu I, Alexandrescu S, Martel G, Workneh A, Guglielmi A, Hugh T, Aldrighetti L, Pawlik TM
HPB, 2020
Hepatocellular carcinoma tumour burden score to stratify prognosis after resection
Tsilimigras DI, Moris D, Hyer JM, Bagante F, Sahara K, Moro A, Paredes AZ, Mehta R, Ratti F, Marques HP, Silva S, Soubrane O, Lam V, Poultsides GA, Popescu I, Alexandrescu S, Martel G, Workneh A, Guglielmi A, Hugh T, Aldrighetti L, Endo I, Sasaki K, Rodarte AI, Aucejo FN, Pawlik TM
British Journal of Surgery, 2020
Early Versus Late Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Surgical Resection Based on Post-recurrence Survival: an International Multi-institutional Analysis
Wei T, Zhang XF, Bagante F, Ratti F, Marques HP, Silva S, Soubrane O, Lam V, Poultsides GA, Popescu I, Grigorie R, Alexandrescu S, Martel G, Workneh A, Guglielmi A, Hugh T, Lv Y, Aldrighetti L, Pawlik TM
Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, 2020
Evaluation of the ACS NSQIP Surgical Risk Calculator in Elderly Patients Undergoing Hepatectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Sahara K, Paredes AZ, Merath K, Tsilimigras DI, Bagante F, Ratti F, Marques HP, Soubrane O, Beal EW, Lam V, Poultsides GA, Popescu I, Alexandrescu S, Martel G, Aklile W, Guglielmi A, Hugh T, Aldrighetti L, Endo I, Pawlik TM
Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, 2020
Minimally invasive versus open liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in the setting of portal vein hypertension: results of an international multi-institutional analysis
Ruzzenente A, Bagante F, Ratti F, Alaimo L, Marques HP, Silva S, Soubrane O, Endo I, Sahara K, Beal EW, Lam V, Poultsides GA, Makris EA, Popescu I, Alexandrescu S, Martel G, Workneh A, Hugh TJ, Guglielmi A, Aldrighetti L, Pawlik TM
Ann Surg Oncol, 2020
Assessing Textbook Outcomes Following Liver Surgery for Primary Liver Cancer Over a 12-Year Time Period at Major Hepatobiliary Centers
Tsilimigras DI, Sahara K, Moris D, Mehta R, Paredes AZ, Ratti F, Marques HP, Soubrane O, Lam V, Poultsides GA, Popescu I, Alexandrescu S, Martel G, Workneh A, Guglielmi A, Hugh T, Aldrighetti L, Weiss M, Bauer TW, Maithel SK, Pulitano C, Shen F, Koerkamp BG, Endo I, Pawlik TM
Annals of Surgical Oncology, 2020
Tsilimigras D, Bagante F, Moris D, Hyer JM, Sahara K, Paredes AZ, Mehta R, Ratti F, Marques HP, Soubrane O, Lam V, Poultsides GA, Popescu I, Alexandrescu S, Martel G, Workneh A, Guglielmi A, Hugh T, Aldrighetti L, Endo I, Pawlik TM
Annals of Surgical Oncology, 2020 · View publication
SELDI-TOF MS Analysis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in an Australian Cohort
Schlichtemeier SM, Nahm CB, Xue A, Gill AJ, Smith RC, Hugh TJ
J Surg Res, 2019 · View publication
Effect of Surgical Margin Width on Patterns of Recurrence among Patients Undergoing R0 Hepatectomy for T1 Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An International Multi-Institutional Analysis
Tsilimigras DI, Sahara K, Moris D, Hyer JM, Paredes AZ, Bagante F, Merath K, Farooq AS, Ratti F, Marques HP, Soubrane O, Azoulay D, Lam V, Poultsides GA, Popescu I, Alexandrescu S, Martel G, Guglielmi A, Hugh T, Aldrighetti L, Endo I, Pawlik TM
Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, 2019
Hospital variation in Textbook Outcomes following curative-intent resection of hepatocellular carcinoma: an international multi-institutional analysis
Tsilimigras DI, Mehta R, Merath K, Bagante F, Paredes AZ, Farooq A, Ratti F, Marques HP, Silva S, Soubrane O, Lam V, Poultsides GA, Popescu I, Grigorie R, Alexandrescu S, Martel G, Workneh A, Guglielmi A, Hugh T, Aldrighetti L, Endo I, Pawlik TM
HPB, 2019
Prognosis After Resection of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Stage 0, A, and B Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Comprehensive Assessment of the Current BCLC Classification
Tsilimigras D, Bagante F, Sahara K, Moris D, Hyer J, Wu L, Ratti F, Marques H, Soubrane O, Paredes A, Hugh T, et al
Annals of Surgical Oncology, 2019
Defining the chance of cure after resection for hepatocellular carcinoma within and beyond the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer guidelines: A multi-institutional analysis of 1,010 patients
Tsilimigras D, Bagante F, Moris D, Merath K, Paredes A, Sahara K, Ratti F, Marques H, Soubrane O, Lam V, Hugh T, et al
Surgery, 2019
Schlichtemeier SM, Pang TC, Williams NE, Gill AJ, Smith RC, Samra JS, Lam VW, Hollands M, Richardson AJ, Pleass HC, Nozawa S, Albania M, Hugh TJ
Eur J Surg Oncol, 2016 · View publication
Clinical care and technical recommendations for 90yttrium microsphere treatment of liver cancer
Wang S-C, Bester L, Burnes JP, Clouston JE, Hugh TJ, Little AF, Padbury RTA, Price D
Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology, 2010
131I Lipiodol therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma
Hugh TJ, Rindani RB, Roche J, Roach PJ, Smith RC
ANZ J Surg, 2002 · View publication
Outcomes across his practice are tracked through the DASO audit unit. That combination of published research and prospective audit is intended to keep advice grounded in measured results, not marketing claims.
Read more about Tom Hugh→Most cases arise in cirrhosis, but non-cirrhotic HCC occurs. MRI and AFP are interpreted with the clinical background.
Sometimes, if liver function scores, portal pressure, and remnant volume are acceptable. Transplant may be preferred for certain small tumours in decompensated cirrhosis.
Six-monthly ultrasound (often with AFP) in high-risk cirrhosis is standard Australian practice. Your hepatologist sets the schedule.
HCC care is multidisciplinary. Hugh focuses on resection and coordinates ablation, embolization, or transplant referral when those suit better.