A new CT-based analysis effectively predicts early recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma, offering surgeons a powerful tool for patient stratification.

• The nested habitats score achieved area under the curve values of 0.832, 0.896, and 0.833 across three cohorts, indicating strong predictive power.
• It remains an independent predictor of recurrence-free survival alongside other known factors like alkaline phosphatase and tumor characteristics.

Use this score for enhanced postoperative risk stratification, ensuring better-targeted follow-up for high-risk patients.