Objective To study the therapeutic effect of liver resection for spontaneous rupture of primary(hepatocellular) carcinoma(SRHCC).Methods The clinical data of 15 patients with ruptured SRHCC treated by liver resection were retrospectively analysed.Results In this group there were 12 males and 3 females.Eight underwent emergent hepatectomy,2 cases had second stage surgery at 40 days after initial operation to control bleeding and 5 cases had operation after 40 days of conservative treatment.Operation included partial right hepatectomy in 8 patients,median lobectomy in one patient,left lateral lobectomy in 2 patients,left(median) lobectomy in 2 patients,left hemihepatectomy in 1 patient,right tumor resection in 1,and left tumor resection in one patient.One of 5 patients with Child grade B liver function died of liver failure at 5 days(after) operation.The operative mortality was 6.7%.Twelve of the 14 patients who surrived were followed up.The median postoperative survival time was 18 months.The 1-,3-and 5-year survival rates were(58.3)%,25%,16.7%,respectively.One patient has been alive and free of tumor for 6 years and 2 months.Conclusions Liver resection is the best treatment for ruptured SRHCC and should be performed when possible.Hepatic resection for SRHCC can result in a long survival time.