Fig. 2

HCC cells can invade the paracancerous liver tissue through the ruptured area of FC. A MR image of the ruptured FC (n = 3), the blue line is the FC, and the red arrow shows the FC ruptured area whose direction is the direction of the tumor cells through the ruptured FC area to invade the paracancerous liver tissues. B MR image of the intact FC (n = 3). The blue line is the intact FC. C H&E staining of the ruptured FC (n = 3), where HCC cells can directly touch the paracancerous liver tissues through the ruptured FC area and then migrate and invade. D H&E staining of intact FC (n = 3). HCC cells existed within the intact FC due to the restriction of the intact FC but did not have direct contact with the paracancerous liver tissues. HCC tumor tissues are indicated by T and the paracancerous liver tissues are indicated by N. The red line adjacent to the cancerous tissue is the FC area; RFC indicates the ruptured fibrous capsule; IFC indicates the intact fibrous capsule