AIM: To clarify the importance of complete treatment by PEIT.METHODS: A total of 140 previously untreated cases of HCC were enrolled in this study from 1988 to 2002. The inclusion criteria were: a solitary tumor less than 4 cm in diameter or multiple tumors, fewer than four in number and less than 3 cm in diameter, without extrahepatic metastasis or vessel invasion. As general principles for the treatment of HCC, the patients underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) prior to PEIT. After the initial treatment of the patients,ultrasonography and computed tomography were performed, and measurement of serum levels of α-fetoprotein (AFP) was determined. When tumor recurrences were detected, PEIT and/or TACE were repeated whenever the hepatic functional reserve of the patient permitted. We then analyzed the variables that could influence prognosis, including tumor size and number, the serum levels of AFP, the parameters of hepatic function (albumin, bilirubin, ALT, hepaplastin test,platelet number, and indocyanine green retention at 15min [ICG-R15]), combined therapy with TACE, distant recurrence, and local recurrence.RESULTS: Univariate analysis identified the ICG test,serum levels of AFP and albumin, tumor size and number,and local recurrence, but not distant recurrence, as significant prognostic variables. In multivariate analysis using those five parameters, the ICG test, tumor size, tumor number,and local recurrence were identified as significant prognostic factors. In both univariate and multivariate analyses, the relative risk for the ICG test was the highest, followed by local recurrence.CONCLUSION: We found that local recurrence is an independent prognostic factor of HCC, indicating that achieving complete treatment for HCC on first treatment is important for improving the prognosis of patients with HCC.