From 1990 to 1994, seventy-seven patients with HCC below 10 cm in tumor diameter underwent hepatic resections after TAE. They were divided into two groups: group C, complete necrosis (over 90% histologically at the maximum cutting surface of the specimen): group I, incomplete necrosis (under 90%). There were no significant differences in clinical background of patients, histopathological features and total disease-free survival rate (DFR) between the two groups. Nevertheless, DFR of patients in group C was significantly better than that of patients in group I, limiting the patients for curative resection. It was suggested that the recurrence of HCC after resection might be inhibited by curative operation following preoperative TAE with complete necrosis of tumor.