AIM To compare the therapeutic effect andsignificances of multimodality treatment forhepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with tumorthrombi in portal vein (PVTT).METHODS HCC patients (n = 147) with tumortrombi in the main portal vein or the first branchof portal vein were divided into four groups bythe several therapeutic methods. There wereconservative treatment group in 18 out ofpatients (group A); and hepatic artery ligation(HAL) and/or hepatic artery infusion (HAl)group in 18 patients (group B), in whompostoberative chemoembolization was doneperiodically; group of removal of HCC with PVTTin 79 (group C) and group of transcatheterhepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE) orHAl and/or portal vein infusion (PVI) afteroperation in 32 (group D).RESULTS The median survival period was 12months in our series and the 1-, 3-, and 5-yearsurvival rates were 44.3%, 24.5% and 15.2%,respectively. The median survival times were 2,5, 12 and 16 months in group A, B, C and D,respectively. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rateswere 5.6%, 0% and 0% in group A; 22.2%,5.6% and 0% in group B; 53.9%, 26.9% and16.6% in group C; 79.3%, 38.9% and 26.8% ingroup D, respectively. Significant differenceappeared in the survival rates among the groups(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION Hepatic resection with removalof tumor thrombi and HCC should increase thecurative effects and be encouraged for theprolongation of life span and quality of life forHCC patients with PVTT, whereas the besttherapeutic method for HCC with PVTT is withregional hepatic chemotherapy orchemoemblization after hepatic resection withremoval of tumor thrombi.