Significance of incorporation of model for end-stage liver disease score with TNM staging in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing hepatic resection.

Background/aims: Currently, the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) system is used in hepatectomy patients for tumor staging of HCC patients. However this can only evaluate the histopathological factor. MELD score is an objective measure for liver function widely used as a severity index for priority on the waiting list for liver transplantation.