Patient characteristics at baseline.

≤44 and >44 groups are defined as patients below or equal age 44 and those above age 44, respectively. Mean values are presented with ± standard errors of the means (SEM). Percentages are expressed as ratio of the total patient population for the considered parameter. P-values were obtained by exact simple (*) or multinomial (**) logistic regression analysis, modelling the specific outcomes with age (≤44 groups vs. >44 group) after geographical and seasonal adjustments. NS: not significant. †Tumor grades were defined as follow: well differentiated (G1), moderately differentiated (G2), and poorly differentiated (G3). ‡The data on recurrence are presented for patients who developed a new HCC within the following 12 months after surgical intervention.