To retrospectively evaluate the value of MR features based on Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS ver.2017) for identifying the status of cytokeratin (CK) 19 expression of HCC before surgery.A total of 201 patients with 207 HCCs who underwent MR imaging were reviewed retrospectively. MR features based on LI-RADS ver.2017 as well as clinical data were compared between CK19-positive (n = 51) and CK19-negative (n = 156) HCCs groups. Potential predictive parameters were identified by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis and diagnostic odds ratios (ORs) were recorded.MR features including targetoid appearance (p = 0.001) was more frequently observed while non-peripheral "washout" (p 0.0001) and non-rim arterial phase hyper-enhancement (p 0.0001) were found less frequently in CK19-positive HCCs compared to CK19-negative HCCs. At multivariate analysis, serum alphafetoprotein (AFP)20 ng/ml (OR = 5.9) and targetoid appearance (OR = 4.2) and non-peripheral "washout" (OR = 0.2) were significant independent predictors of CK19-positive HCCs.Targetoid appearance and absence non-peripheral "washout" combined with elevated AFP were useful for differentiating CK19-positive HCCs from CK19-negative HCC.