Objective To assess the efficacy of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the effect of recipient selection on postoperative survival. Methods The clinical data of 63 patients with primary HCC receiving OLT in this hospital from June 2000 to February 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. The cumulative survival rate after transplantation was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results The 1-, 3- and 5-year cumulative survival rates of the 63 patients were 77.4%, 59.3%, 48. 9%, respectively. The rates in conformation with Milan criteria, UCSF criteria and beyond UCSF criteria were 93.8%, 80.8%, 80.8%; 92.1%, 79.2%,79.2%; 29.2%, 8.3%, 0, respectively. The 1-, 3-, 5-year cumulative recurrent rate of patients meeting Milan criteria, UCSF criteria and beyond UCSF criteria was 6.2%, 15.5%, 19. 2%; 7. 9%,15.9%, 20. 8% ; 70. 8%, 87. 5%, 91.7%, respectively (P＜0.01). However, tumor recurrence and survival rates were similar for patients meeting UCSF and Milan criteria (P＞0. 05). Conclusion Expansion of OLT criteria is justified for HCC and does not adversely impact the posttransplant prognosis by the UCSF criteria as compared with the Milan criteria.