Objective Steatotic liver disease (SLD) is a prevalent chronic liver disease for which lifestyle intervention remains the first-line treatment. However, reliable biomarkers that reflect treatment responsiveness are limited. MicroRNA-122 (miR-122) is a liver-specific microRNA involved in hepatic lipid metabolism and injury. However, its clinical significance during lifestyle intervention has not yet been fully elucidated. Methods This single-center retrospective study enrolled 144 patients with SLD who underwent a 6-day inpatient individualized diet and exercise program. The serum miR-122 levels were measured at baseline and on Day 4 of hospitalization. The primary endpoint was defined as ≥10% improvement in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels at 6 months. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the factors independently associated with ALT improvement. Results The liver function and metabolic parameters improved significantly at 6 months. The median ALT improvement rate was 13.4%. An exploratory receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that baseline miR-122 moderately discriminated against ALT improvement ≥10% (area under the curve [AUC] 0.663, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.572-0.753). In a multivariate analysis, the baseline miR-122 was independently associated with ALT improvement after adjusting for age, sex, alcohol consumption, body mass index, and baseline ALT. Early changes in miR-122 on Day 4 were not independently associated with the 6-month outcomes. Conclusion Individualized dietary and exercise therapy based on a multifaceted approach is effective for SLD. The baseline serum miR-122 levels were associated with a biochemical ALT improvement following lifestyle intervention in patients with SLD. Circulating miR-122 may serve as a response-associated biomarker reflecting the biochemical responsiveness to lifestyle intervention.

To examine the association between a positive family history (parents, siblings, and grandparents) of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, and dyslipidemia and their prevalence and incidence in the same population. Data on 41,361 participants who underwent health examinations between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2007, were analyzed, and the results of logistic and Cox regression analyses in the same cohort were examined. Cross-sectional analyses showed that the prevalence of all three diseases increased with a positive family history, especially T2DM, with an odds ratio (OR) of 12.00 (95% CI, 7.82 to 18.41) when the number of affected relatives was greater than or equal to 3 with an OR of 20.43 (95% CI, 11.0 to 37.8) for a positive family history across three generations compared with no family history. However, redefining family history from "parents, siblings, and grandparents" to "parents and siblings" or "parents only" did not significantly change ORs for each disease. Among those with a positive family history and body mass index greater than or equal to 30.0 kg/m2 hypertension was 19 times more prevalent compared with no family history and body mass index of 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2. In the longitudinal study, family history strongly influenced incident T2DM (hazard ratio[HR], 2.40; 95% CI, 1.93 to 2.98), hypertension (HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.26 to 1.62), and dyslipidemia (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.83), respectively. Obtaining a family history of these diseases was useful in identifying high-risk groups. Also, for T2DM, the influence of a positive family history was strongest with a marked increase in risk with overlap of affected family members, suggesting that a family history is useful for early detection and prevention.

Introduction:Preventive programs, including cancer and diabetes screenings, were disrupted globally by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and had not returned to pre-pandemic levels even in 2021-2022. In Japan, COVID-19 was downgraded to the lowest-risk category under the Infectious Diseases Control Law in May 2023. However, whether participation in health check-ups recovered after this downgrade remains unclear. Additionally, understanding the impact of the pandemic on employees' mental health and attrition is crucial for maintaining services in future pandemics. To address these issues, we conducted a nationwide survey. Methods:A questionnaire survey was conducted between December 16, 2023, and February 21, 2024, targeting member facilities of Japan Society of Ningen Dock and Preventive Medical Care. The questionnaires covered COVID-19-related rules before and after the downgrade, the negative impact on employees' mental health, and whether employee resignations increased compared to the pre-pandemic period. Participants also provided data on the number of health check-up examinees from 2019 to 2023. Results:We emailed 1,381 facilities, of which 856 responded (response rate: 62.0%). An additional 124 facilities responded via the Society's website, yielding a total of 980 participants. While cancer screenings by local governments returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2023, gastric cancer screenings remained low. Nearly 30% of facilities reported a negative impact of the pandemic on employees' mental health, which was associated with factors such as being annexed to hospitals and employees' complaints about strict COVID-19-related rules. This negative impact was strongly linked to increased employee resignations. Conclusions:While overall cancer screening rates recovered, gastric cancer screenings remained below pre-pandemic levels. Furthermore, the negative impact on employees' mental health was significantly associated with increased attrition, highlighting the need for mental health support for those engaged in preventive medicine to maintain services during future pandemics.

Objective The long-term impact of personalized diet and exercise programs for steatotic liver disease (SLD) remains unclear. Materials The subjects of this retrospective cohort study included 104 consecutive Japanese patients with SLD. The long-term treatment efficacy of personalized diet and exercise treatment was evaluated two years after the start of observation. Regular and repeated hospitalizations every 6 months (RRH group, n=23) indicated the 4 times of the number of hospitalizations, and irregular hospitalizations (IH group, n=56) showed the 1 to three times. The group without hospitalization was defined as the no hospitalization group (NH group, n=25). To balance confounding biases, the difference in treatment efficacy between the RRH and IH groups was evaluated using propensity score (PS)-matched analysis. A diet of 25 to 30 kcal/kg multiplied by ideal body weight (BW) daily, and aerobic and resistance exercise (exercise intensity of 4 to 5 metabolic equivalents daily, respectively) was performed for 6 days. Results At 2 years compared to baseline, the decrease rates of liver function tests, HbA1c, and physical findings in the RRH group were significantly higher than those in the NH or IH groups by multiple comparisons. According to the liver function tests and physical findings, the rate of decrease in the RRH group (17 cases) was significantly higher than that in the IH group (17 cases) using a PS-matched analysis. Conclusion The present study indicated the long-term favorable efficacy of personalized diet and exercise programs for SLD. In particular, this RRH program was effective in improving the findings of liver function tests and might help to sustain diet and exercise.

Objective To examine the association between a positive family history (parents, siblings, and grandparents) of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, and dyslipidemia and their prevalence and incidence in the same population. Patients and Methods Data on 41,361 participants who underwent health examinations between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2007, were analyzed, and the results of logistic and Cox regression analyses in the same cohort were examined. Results Cross-sectional analyses showed that the prevalence of all three diseases increased with a positive family history, especially T2DM, with an odds ratio (OR) of 12.00 (95% CI, 7.82 to 18.41) when the number of affected relatives was greater than or equal to 3 with an OR of 20.43 (95% CI, 11.0 to 37.8) for a positive family history across three generations compared with no family history. However, redefining family history from "parents, siblings, and grandparents" to "parents and siblings" or "parents only" did not significantly change ORs for each disease. Among those with a positive family history and body mass index greater than or equal to 30.0 kg/m2 hypertension was 19 times more prevalent compared with no family history and body mass index of 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2. In the longitudinal study, family history strongly influenced incident T2DM (hazard ratio[HR], 2.40; 95% CI, 1.93 to 2.98), hypertension (HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.26 to 1.62), and dyslipidemia (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.83), respectively. Conclusion Obtaining a family history of these diseases was useful in identifying high-risk groups. Also, for T2DM, the influence of a positive family history was strongest with a marked increase in risk with overlap of affected family members, suggesting that a family history is useful for early detection and prevention.

BACKGROUND:This preliminary study evaluated the clinical impact of peripheral blood T lymphocyte differentiation patterns to predict the treatment response to durvalumab plus tremelimumab therapy (a regimen termed STRIDE). METHODS:We investigated 21 patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with STRIDE. The treatment response was evaluated 4-8 weeks after the initiation of STRIDE using the modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors. The correlation between pretreatment peripheral blood T lymphocytes differentiation patterns, with a focus on the peripheral blood CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio and response to STRIDE, was then investigated. RESULTS:Of the 21 patients, 5 (24%) had an objective response (OR). The median peripheral blood CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio (CD4/8-R) of the cohort was 1.4. A receiver operating characteristic curve showed the optimal cutoff value for predicting an OR to STRIDE determined by the Youden index to be 2.5. Of the seven patients with a CD4/8-R ≥2.5, four (57%) had an OR. In contrast, of the 14 patients with a CD4/8-R <2.5, only one patient (7%) had an OR. Finally, the OR rate (ORR) was significantly higher in the group with a CD4/8-R ≥2.5 at the time of STRIDE initiation (p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS:The peripheral blood CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio is a potential predictive biomarker for the response to STRIDE therapy in HCC patients.

Heritability and obesity are strongly associated with the prevalence of T2DM, HT, and DL. We compared the effects of an FH of T2DM, HT, and DL combined with obesity on the prevalence of each in the same population. Of 41931 participants who underwent health checkups, the effects of an FH and BMI on the prevalence of those conditions were analyzed cross-sectionally. Prevalences of T2DM, HT, and DL were 5%, 20%, and 48%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that ORs increased for all three as the number of FH positive cases increased and was most pronounced for T2DM. An FH of obesity and increased BMI were additively associated with the prevalence of the three diseases compared to BMI 20.0-21.9 and no positive FH (Fig. A). In addition, the combination of the number of family members with FH positivity (0,1, 2, ≥3) and obesity was additively associated with an increased FH of the three diseases compared to non-obesity and no FH of any of these diseases (Fig. B). For T2DM, the OR increased sharply in non-obese participants when the number of those with an FH of T2DM was ≥3 (14.4 [8.88-23.5]), but in obese participants the OR increased sharply when the number of those with an FH of T2DM was 2 (12.2 [8.85-16.9]) (Fig. B). Results suggest that, especially for T2DM, avoidance of obesity may be effective in reducing the prevalence of these disorders in those with many FH-positive family members. Disclosure I. Ikeda: None. K. Fujihara: None. Y. Takeda: None. C. Horikawa: None. S. Kodama: None. E.D. Ferreira: None. Y. Mori: None. T. Kadowaki: None. R. Yamamoto-Honda: None. Y. Arase: None. H. Sone: Research Support; Novo Nordisk, Astellas Pharma Inc., Kowa Company, Ltd., Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd., Eisai Inc., Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd.

A FH of T2DM, HT, and DL are known risk factors; however, few studies have compared the impact of a FH of the 3 diseases in the same population. We examined the impact of a detailed FH of these conditions (i.e., in fathers, mothers, siblings and grandparents) on their prevalence and incidence in the study population. Data on 41,931 participants who underwent health checkups were examined and the results of a logistic regression and (Cox regression model in the same cohort were examined. Results of the cross-sectional study showed that odds ratios increased with the degree of a positive FH for all three diseases. Furthermore, in T2DM, the group with a three-generation positive FH was approximately 20 times larger than the control group which had no FH (Figure). In the longitudinal study, FH had a strong influence on the incidence of T2DM, HT, and DL, in that order, with a hazard ratio of 2.40 (1.93-2.98) for T2DM. A detailed FH was extremely useful for both quantitative screening for each disease and predicting the incidence of the three diseases, especially T2DM, for which a high risk was indicated in multiple generations with overlapping of positivity for a particular disease. Disclosure I. Ikeda: None. K. Fujihara: None. Y. Takeda: None. M. Hatta: None. S. Wu: None. S. Kodama: None. Y. Mori: None. T. Kadowaki: None. R. Yamamoto-Honda: None. Y. Arase: None. H. Sone: Research Support; Novo Nordisk, Astellas Pharma Inc., Kowa Company, Ltd., Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd., Eisai Inc., Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd.

Introduction:Preventive programs, including screenings for cancer and diabetes, were disrupted globally due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020. We previously conducted a nationwide survey to investigate the initial impact of the pandemic on health check-ups; however, the impact in the second and third years of the pandemic has not yet been elucidated. Here, we conducted a follow-up survey targeting healthcare facilities to evaluate the impact of the pandemic until the end of 2022.Methods:A questionnaire survey was conducted between December 15, 2022, and February 10, 2023, targeting member facilities of Japan Society of Ningen Dock. The survey consisted of two parts. Part I comprised a web-based questionnaire, in which the facilities were asked about their commitment to COVID-19-related care, precautions against COVID-19, and whether the pandemic had a negative financial impact on the management of health check-ups. In Part II, the facilities were asked about the number of examinees who underwent health check-ups between 2019 and 2022, the proportion of those who needed and adhered to follow-up visits, and the number of cancer cases found between 2019 and 2021.Results:Of the 1,343 eligible facilities, 885 participated (response rate: 65.9%). The observation that the number of people undergoing mandatory check-ups increased while those undergoing nonmandatory check-ups (e.g., cancer screenings by local governments) decreased in 2021, compared with that of 2019, persisted into 2022. Approximately 60% of the facilities reported a negative financial impact on the management of health check-ups, even in 2022.Conclusions:In 2022, the pandemic's detrimental effects on health check-ups persisted.

BACKGROUND:The aim of this study was to evaluate the newly established oncological criteria of resectability of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for selecting suitable candidates for systemic and combination therapy. METHODS:The data of 156 consecutive HCC patients with intrahepatic target nodules who had initially received systemic therapy (lenvatinib and atezolizumab plus bevacizumab) were reviewed. The patients were classified into three groups according to the novel oncological criteria for resectability (R, resectable; BR1, borderline resectable 1; and BR2, borderline resectable 2). The prognostic ability and clinical utility for selecting this population to receive combined use of multiple systemic sequential and locoregional therapy was then evaluated. Combined use of systemic sequential therapy with more than two agents and locoregional treatment was defined as multidisciplinary combination therapy (MCT), while systemic sequential therapy only and repeated locoregional treatment was defined as a single treatment procedure (STP). RESULTS:Patients classified as R and BR1 had significantly better overall survival (OS) compared with BR2 (R vs. BR2, p = 0.012; BR1 vs. BR2, p = 0.004). However, there was no significant difference between R and BR1 (p = 1.000), in spite of significantly worse oncological status in the BR1 patients. Following a R0 resection and MCT, the BR1 patients had significantly better OS compared with those receiving STP or no additional treatment (median OS, not reached vs. 25.2 months and 20.1 vs. 11.3 months, respectively; p = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS:In patients with advanced HCC with intrahepatic target nodules the BR1 category is one of the favorable candidates for selecting those to be treated with MCT strategies.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a new classification for safer transradial access hepatic interventional radiology, based on preoperative evaluation of the location of the left subclavian artery bifurcation in the aortic arch. A total of 38 consecutive patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and 74 sessions of r adial a ccess for v isceral i ntervention ( R. A.V.I.) were reviewed. We classified the location of the left subclavian artery bifurcation in the aortic arch in three areas using an oblique view computed tomography image matched with the curve of the aortic arches according to a new criteria T hree A reas C riteria F or R. A.V.I. (named “TAC-F-R”), and measured the required time from initial left radial artery arteriography to celiac artery or superior mesenteric artery arteriography. The median time required for left radial artery arteriography to the celiac artery or superior mesenteric artery arteriography in each of the three areas were: area A, 0:11:10 (h, min, s); area B, 0:14:44; and area C, 0:31:51. There were significant differences between each area after Bonferroni correction ( p  < 0.01; A vs. B, p  = 0.086; A vs. C, p  = 0.001; and B vs. C, p  = 0.045), with areas A and B requiring a significantly shorter time. Finally, no patients showed neurogenic disfunction within 1 week after the R.A.V.I. procedure. The new classification, “TAC-F-R,” for safer transradial access hepatic interventional radiology is effective for avoiding difficult cases, and selects more suitable patients with hepatocellular carcinoma for the R. A.V.I. procedure.

A retrospective study was conducted to determine the efficacy of a diet and exercise hospitalization program for fatty liver. During six days, a diet of 25 to 30 kcal/kg multiplied by ideal body weight (BW) was followed by aerobic and resistance exercise (exercise intensity of 4 to 5 METs daily). The changes in liver function (AST, ALT, and γGTP), glycolipid metabolism (HbA1c and triglyceride), ferritin, and BW were assessed based on whether or not the patient was hospitalized (86 cases) (17 cases). Except for BW, the parameters improved significantly at 6 months after hospitalization when compared to baseline. However, these did not improve in no hospitalization. At 6 months after hospitalization, a diet and exercise program improved liver function and glycolipid metabolism.

Background We determined the long-term clinical outcome and the durability of treatment cessation after HBsAg seroclearance following nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods We analyzed virological relapse (VR), HBsAg reversion, clinical relapse, and changes in HBsAg and HBcrAg levels by iTACT assay after treatment cessation of 90 CHB patients who achieved HBsAg seroclearance by NA treatment. Results Median age of patients at treatment cessation was 57 years. Median duration of NA treatment and follow-up from cessation of NA were 9.25 and 5.2 years, respectively. Although VR occurred in 19 of 90 (21.1%) patients, HBV DNA levels of 18 patients had temporal elevations and sustained levels under the detection level thereafter. HBsAg reversion using Architect HBsAg QT assay occurred in six patients (6.7%) after cessation of NA. Five patients had temporal HBsAg level elevations and sustained levels under the detection level thereafter. One patient had virological and clinical relapse at 6 months after cessation of NA, and received NA re-treatment. HBsAg levels by iTACT assay from end of treatment (EOT) gradually decreased and in 18 of 28 (64%) patients reached an undetectable level at 5 years after EOT. In contrast, HBcrAg levels by iTACT assay slowly decreased, and in 8 of 29 patients (28%) reached an undetectable level at 5 years after EOT. Conclusions Patients receiving NA treatment who achieved HBsAg seroclearance as determined by HBsAg QT assay rarely experienced virological or clinical relapse after the cessation of treatment.

IntroductionLow serum amylase values are cross-sectionally associated with the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) but have not been shown to be longitudinally associated with its incidence. This retrospective cohort (ie, historical cohort) study aimed to examine the association of previously lowered levels of serum amylase with incident T2DM.Research design and methodsExamined were 8316 individuals who had annual health examinations for 6 years (ie, 7 times) at the Toranomon Hospital Health Management Center. The trajectory of serum amylase as the study exposure was classified into two elements: (1) serum amylase level at entry and (2) change in serum amylase, which was expressed as the annual change rate. The annual change rate was calculated by dividing the change in the amylase values according to follow-up periods. Regression analyses were performed to examine the association between low and decreased levels of serum amylase and the incidence of T2DM.ResultsAnalyzed were 6917 individuals who had not developed T2DM within 1 year after cohort entry. T2DM thereafter occurred in 1021 patients. Cox regression indicated that the adjusted HR (95% CI) for incident T2DM for amylase ≤57 IU/L (quintile (Q) 1) was 0.97 (0.84 to 1.13) compared with amylase ≥58 IU/L (Q2–Q5). Logistic regression indicated that the adjusted OR (95% CI) for an annual change rate of amylase ≤−2.0% (Q1) vs ≥−1.9% (Q2–Q5) was 3.53 (3.00 to 4.16). The adjusted ORs were consistently significant throughout sensitivity analyses according to baseline amylase and the combination of age, body mass index, and hemoglobin A1c.ConclusionsResults showed that not low but previously decreased serum amylase was a risk factor for T2DM, suggesting the significance of periodic examinations of serum amylase values to detect individuals at high risk of T2DM.

Introduction: Health check-ups have been disrupted worldwide by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially at its beginning. In Japan, undergoing annual check-ups is mandatory for full-time employees of all ages, while those other than full-time employees are entitled to undergo nonmandatory cancer screenings and specific health check-ups. To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health check-ups, we conducted a nationwide questionnaire survey targeting healthcare facilities. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted between December 10, 2021, and January 28, 2022. Healthcare facilities were eligible if they were members of Japan Society of Ningen Dock and could respond via email. The monthly and yearly numbers of examinees undergoing mandatory or nonmandatory check-ups in 2020 and 2021 were compared with those in 2019. The proportions of examinees requiring follow-up visits and adhering to follow-up visits were compared between 2020 and 2019. Precautions taken against COVID-19 were also investigated. Results: Of the 1,299 eligible facilities, 639 participated (response rate, 49.2%). Health check-up services were suspended in 484 (75.7%) facilities for a median duration of 5 (interquartile range [IQR]: 4-8) weeks. A total of 19,861,230 and 21,748,125 examinees underwent health check-ups in 591 facilities in 2020 and 2021, respectively, 10.0% and 1.4% less than the numbers in 2019. The number of examinees undergoing health check-ups decreased by a median of 8.3% (IQR: -14.6 to -3.1) in 2020 compared to that in 2019, with the largest decrease of 70.3% (IQR -87.9 to -48.5) in May. Although the number of examinees undergoing mandatory check-ups increased in 2021 compared with that in 2019, the number of those undergoing nonmandatory check-ups remained low. Conclusions: While people eligible for mandatory check-ups were adherent to check-ups in 2021, those ineligible for mandatory check-ups seemed less adherent. Public health efforts to encourage these people to adhere to check-ups during the pandemic are required.

Introduction: Personalized medicine and molecular therapies with the diagnosis of somatic genetic alterations are expected to be developed for liver cancer. Nevertheless, it is unknown whether a mutation in the telomere reverse transcriptase promoter (TERT C228T) in serum cfDNA might be useful for making prognostic predictions after surgical resection for primary liver cancer. Methods: This cohort study retrospectively investigated 111 patients who had undergone surgical resection of liver cancer for the first time. We investigated the differences between clinicopathological features and prognosis according to classification of three tumor markers, including AFP, PIVKAII, and TERT C228T. Results: Multivariate analysis identified etiology (fatty liver disease vs. HBV odds ratio [OR] 6.853) and fibrosis stage (2–4, OR: 0.137) as determinants of TERT C228T-positive liver cancer with normal levels of AFP and PIVKAII (TERT single positive liver cancer). TERT single positive (Yes, OR: 0.301), fibrosis (FIB)-4 index (≥3.25, OR: 2.038), Child-Pugh classification (B, OR: 4.975), and number of tumors (≥2, OR: 4.098) were identified as determinants of the recurrence of liver cancer. TERT single positive (Yes, OR: 3.311), FIB-4 index (≥3.25, OR: 0.433), and number of tumors (≥2, OR: 0.262) were identified as determinants of disease-free survival. Conclusions: Our results highlight the impact of classification of prognostic tumor markers. TERT single positive is one predictor of favorable prognosis after surgical resection for liver cancer.

Introduction: When lenvatinib is administered to people with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), tumor blood flow is reduced due to the inhibition of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR). Few studies have examined the decrease in tumor blood flow with respect to changes in tumor blood vessels (TBVs) in clinical practice. We investigated the mechanism of tumor blood flow control by investigating changes in the diameter of relatively large TBVs in large-sized lesions with high blood flow. Methods: From January 2011 to October 2021, patients receiving lenvatinib for unresectable intrahepatic HCC at Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, were considered for inclusion. We investigated the TBV diameter in the arterial phase of dynamic computed tomography before treatment and its change over time (2–12 weeks after lenvatinib initiation). The relationship between changes in TBV diameter and prognosis was also examined. Results: Of 114 patients treated with lenvatinib for HCC, 26 patients who had intrahepatic lesions with a tumor diameter of 30 mm or more enrolled in the study. The median tumor and TBV diameters before treatment were 58 mm and 2.55 mm, respectively. Twenty-five patients (96%) had a shrinkage in TBV diameter 2–12 weeks after lenvatinib administration. The maximum TBV diameter shrinkage of 20% or more was observed in 19 patients (73%), and progression-free survival was prolonged in these patients compared to the group with less than 20% TBV diameter shrinkage (p = 0.039). Discussion/Conclusion: Due to the antiangiogenic effect of lenvatinib, a shrinkage in the TBV diameter of HCC was observed. The shrinkage of TBV may be regarded as a process of normalization of TBVs. The shrinkage of TBVs in imaging analysis may be associated with improved prognosis; however, additional studies are still required.