Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide (1), with an upward trend in most countries over the last 20 years. While surgical resection remains as the first-line therapy for HCC, the relevant high postoperative recurrence rate is still the major conce, responding for poor survival in most cases (2). The comparison between anatomic resection (AR) and non-anatomic partial resection (NAR) has been discussed for several decades, making it more clear of their application based on tumor features and underlying liver disease, but yet much needs to be completed.