Abstract:objective: To explore the correlation between clinical stages of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and disease-free survival,and the importance of screening in the high risk population of HCC. Methods: A ret rospective survey of 1 725 cases with HCC after radical and relatively radical operation was performed. The follow-up rate was 84. 5%. The significant factors were analysed using Cox proportional hazards survival analysis model,and the disease-free survival was analysed using Kapalan-Meier estimination. Results: Uni variate analysis shows twelve prognostic clinicopathological factors. Multivariate analysis revealed 4 signifi cant prognostic factors: preoperative tumor number,tumor size,daughter nodules and vascular invasion. Ka palan-Meier estimination showed disease-free survival in subclinical stage was much better than in stage 2 or 3. Conclusion:Screening in the high risk population of HCC and having check-up of AFP and B ultrasono graphy of liver regularly themselvs can detect tumor of patients in early stage,so that they can have surgical treatment in subclinical stage,and have their disease-free survival time increased much more.