Comparison of patients with HCC with and without MASLD after surgical resection

The rising prevalence of MASLD has made it a major etiology of HCC, yet its prognostic significance remains debated. Our study demonstrates that simple steatosis confers a clear survival benefit after hepatectomy, whereas steatohepatitis negates this advantage. By contrast, the mere presence of CMRFs does not alter survival or recurrence risk. These insights highlight the need to incorporate histological phenotyping by differentiating simple steatosis from inflammatory steatohepatitis into postoperative management protocols to refine risk stratification and optimize surveillance strategies for patients with HCC.