Abstract: Objective : To investigate the correlation between postoperative early recurrence and preoperative serum C-reactive protein level in patients with hepatocellular carcinomas. Methods : From January 2000 to January 2004, blood samples were obtained from 72 patients with hepatocellular carcinomas 30 min before hepatectomy, and serum CRP levels were measured by scatter immunoturbidimetry. Clinicopathologic variables were compared between patients with serum CRP levels ≥8 mg/L (CRP-positive group) and patients with serum CRP levels 8 mg/L (CRP-negative group). Results : The positive rate of serum CRP expression in patients with hepatocellular carcimona was 72.2% (52/72). Serum CRP level was significantly associated with the postoperative early recurrence, serum alpha-fetoprotein level and the biologically malignant potential of the tumor itself such as infiltration of the fibrous capsule, portal vascular invasion, intra-hepatic metastasis and tumor size. The early recurrence rate in CRP-positive group and CRP-negative group were 44.2% (23/52) and 10% (2/20) respectively (P<0.01). Conclusion : The preoperative serum CRP level may be a significant indicator predictive of postoperative early recurrence in patients with HCC.