[Objective] To identify risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma complicated by portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) and to develop a diagnostic model. [Methods] Clinical data from 84 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, who received treatment at the Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University between July 2021 and November 2023, were retrospectively collected. Based on the presence of PVTT, confirmed by abdominal CT, MRI, or postoperative pathological evaluation, the patients were categorized into a thrombus group (n = 44) and a non-thrombus group (n = 40). Comparative analysis of clinical data between the two groups was performed. Stepwise logistic regression was utilized to identify the influencing factors associated with hepatocellular carcinoma complicated by PVTT. A nomogram model was subsequently developed, and a calibration curve was constructed to evaluate the model’s calibration accuracy. The diagnostic performance was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Decision curve analysis and clinical impact curves were used to evaluate the clinical applicability and utility of the model. [Results] Logistic regression analysis identified distant metastasis (OR = 4.885, 95% CI: 1.632~14.620, P = 0.005), elevated prothrombin levels (protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II, PIVKA-II; OR = 2.805, 95% CI: 1.052~7.476, P = 0.039), and increased D-dimer (D-D) levels (OR = 3.059, 95% CI: 1.313~7.127, P = 0.010) as factors associated with hepatocellular carcinoma complicated by PVTT. A nomogram model was developed, and the calibration curve demonstrated good agreement with the ideal reference line. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.818 (95% CI: 0.730~0.906, P < 0.001), indicating strong discriminative ability. Decision curve analysis and the clinical impact curve further confirmed the favorable clinical utility of the model. [Conclusion] Distant metastasis, serum PIVKA-II, and plasma D-D levels were found to be significantly associated with the development of PVTT. The diagnostic model constructed based on these three factors demonstrated promising clinical utility and may serve as a valuable tool for the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma complicated by PVTT. |