Zhang XP, et al. - In order to develop a nomogram that could predict early postoperative recurrence (ER) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumour thrombus (PVTT) and could guide the selection of these patients for adjuvant therapy to reduce postoperative recurrence risks, researchers analyzed 979 HCC patients with PVTT limited to a first-order branch or above of the MPV after R0 LR as an initial therapy. Data from a retrospective training cohort was used to develop the nomogram with the Cox regression model. In a prospective internal validation cohort and three external validation cohorts, they tested the model. Following variables were included in the nomogram: hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), PVTT, HBV DNA, satellite nodules, α-fetoprotein, and tumour diameter. Postoperative ER developed in 657 patients (67.1%); 165 of 264 patients (62.5%) in the training cohort; 146 of 218 patients (70.0%) in the internal validation cohort; and 204 of 284 patients (71.8%), 77 of 113 patients (68.1%), and 65 of 100 patients (65%) in the three external validation cohorts, respectively. Findings suggests a possible utility of this nomogram for selecting appropriate patients with high ER risks for postoperative adjuvant therapy.