ObjectiveTo investigate the distribution of various types of autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and the adjacent non-tumor tissues. Methods We observed the ultrastructure of 15 HCC tissues and the matched adjacent non-tumor tissues under electron microscope. Scion Image software was used to analyze the relationship between distribution of various types of autophagy and cell ultrastructure. ResultsThe data showed that macroautophagy was the dominant one in HCC cells,and the distribution was associated with the activity and metabolism of HCC cells. We also found that the microautophgy was the dominant one in the cells of adjacent tissues,and the distribution was associated with the inflammation injury of cells. ConclusionOur study suggests that macroautophagy and microautophagy are asymmetrically distributed between HCC cells and hepatocytes of the adjacent tissues,which might be related to the development of HCC.