Abstract:Objective: To investigate the clinicopathologic features and postoperative prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and concomitant sarcopenia. Methods: The clinicopathologic and follow-up data of 139 HCC patients undergoing surgical resection in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from March 2010 to June 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Among the 139 patients, 56 cases (40.3%) had concomitant sarcopenia. In patients with concomitant sarcopenia compared with those without sarcopenia, the body mass index and skeletal muscle index were significantly decreased, and the portions of cases with advanced TNM stage and microvascular infiltration were significantly increased (all P<0.05); the incidence of postoperative infections (14.3% vs. 3.6%), major complications (Clavien-Dindo III and above) (19.6% vs. 6.0%) and overall complications (35.7 vs. 13.3%) were significantly increased (all P<0.05); the time for postoperative recovery (17.35 d vs. 11.33 d) was significantly prolonged and percentage of cases requiring ICU admission (12.5% vs. 2.4%) was significantly increased (both P<0.05); the overall postoperative survival time was significantly reduced (P<0.05). Results of Cox proportional hazard model showed that concomitant sarcopenia was an independent risk factor affecting the postoperative survival of HCC patients. Conclusion: HCC patients with concomitant sarcopenia may experience an increased incidence of postoperative complications and delayed postoperative recovery, and also may face an unfavorable postoperative prognosis.