Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Prediction of Posthepatectomy Liver Failure Using Transient Elastography in Patients 
with Hepatitis B related Hepatocellular Carcinoma  
 
Version: 0 Date: 06 Sep 2017  
 
Reviewer: Quirino Lai  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
BMGE -D-17-00376  
Prediction of Posthepatectomy Liver Failure Using Tr ansient Elastography in Patients with 
Hepatitis B related Hepatocellular Carcinoma  
This is a retrospective study coming from China focused on the predictive role of elastography in 
247 HCC patients undergoing liver resection in a setting of HBV infection.  
The study is of interest, showing that the combination of liver function (INR) and elastography is 
able to well predict post -hepatectomy liver failure. The study needs attention. However, some 
comments should be addressed with the intent to improve the a rticle quality.  
The overall quality of English is poor, surely requiring a more detailed analysis done by a native 
speaker.  
LSM is not explained the first time it is reported in the text.  
In Tables, please be consistent with the number of decimals after  the comma (I suggest to report 
one value), and with the percentages in case of dichotomic variables. At the end of the tables, all 
the abbreviations must be explained.  
In Table 2, I think that "PLF" is "PHLF".  
Page 10 line 15, please explain the term "R OI".  
I think it should be of interest to report an additive table in which different ROC curves results 
are reported, comparing  the role of elastography alone, INR alone, the combined INR -
elastography score, and other variables like cirrhosis or entity of  hepatectomy as predictors of 
liver failure.  
Are the methods appropriate and well describe d? 
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Not suitable  for publication unless extensively edited  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary fr om an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication o f this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has app lied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write  'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Acces s Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments  
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Prediction of Posthepatectomy Liver Failure Using Transient Elastography in Patients 
with Hepatitis B related Hepatocellular Carcinoma  
 
Version: 0 Date: 06 Sep 2017  
 
Reviewer: Quirino Lai  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
BMGE -D-17-00376  
Prediction of Posthepatectomy Liver Failure Using Tr ansient Elastography in Patients with 
Hepatitis B related Hepatocellular Carcinoma  
This is a retrospective study coming from China focused on the predictive role of elastography in 
247 HCC patients undergoing liver resection in a setting of HBV infection.  
The study is of interest, showing that the combination of liver function (INR) and elastography is 
able to well predict post -hepatectomy liver failure. The study needs attention. However, some 
comments should be addressed with the intent to improve the a rticle quality.  
The overall quality of English is poor, surely requiring a more detailed analysis done by a native 
speaker.  
LSM is not explained the first time it is reported in the text.  
In Tables, please be consistent with the number of decimals after  the comma (I suggest to report 
one value), and with the percentages in case of dichotomic variables. At the end of the tables, all 
the abbreviations must be explained.  
In Table 2, I think that "PLF" is "PHLF".  
Page 10 line 15, please explain the term "R OI".  
I think it should be of interest to report an additive table in which different ROC curves results 
are reported, comparing  the role of elastography alone, INR alone, the combined INR -
elastography score, and other variables like cirrhosis or entity of  hepatectomy as predictors of 
liver failure.  
Are the methods appropriate and well describe d? 
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Not suitable  for publication unless extensively edited  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary fr om an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication o f this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has app lied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write  'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Acces s Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments  
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Prediction of Posthepatectomy Liver Failure Using Transient Elastography in Patients 
with Hepatitis B related Hepatocellular Carcinoma  
 
Version: 0 Date: 06 Sep 2017  
 
Reviewer: Quirino Lai  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
BMGE -D-17-00376  
Prediction of Posthepatectomy Liver Failure Using Tr ansient Elastography in Patients with 
Hepatitis B related Hepatocellular Carcinoma  
This is a retrospective study coming from China focused on the predictive role of elastography in 
247 HCC patients undergoing liver resection in a setting of HBV infection.  
The study is of interest, showing that the combination of liver function (INR) and elastography is 
able to well predict post -hepatectomy liver failure. The study needs attention. However, some 
comments should be addressed with the intent to improve the a rticle quality.  
The overall quality of English is poor, surely requiring a more detailed analysis done by a native 
speaker.  
LSM is not explained the first time it is reported in the text.  
In Tables, please be consistent with the number of decimals after  the comma (I suggest to report 
one value), and with the percentages in case of dichotomic variables. At the end of the tables, all 
the abbreviations must be explained.  
In Table 2, I think that "PLF" is "PHLF".  
Page 10 line 15, please explain the term "R OI".  
I think it should be of interest to report an additive table in which different ROC curves results 
are reported, comparing  the role of elastography alone, INR alone, the combined INR -
elastography score, and other variables like cirrhosis or entity of  hepatectomy as predictors of 
liver failure.  
Are the methods appropriate and well describe d? 
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Not suitable  for publication unless extensively edited  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary fr om an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication o f this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has app lied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write  'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Acces s Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments  
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
assistant