Objective To explore the features of recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver transplantation (LT) and the related factors.Methods 117 cases of LT for HCC were retrospectively analyzed in a single transplantation center,Medical School of Hanover between Nov 1993 and May 2006.The cumulative survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and the differences of the related factors between various groups were analyzed by Log-rank test.Results 63 cases (58.3％) met the Milan criteria,45 cases (41.7％) exceeded the Milan criteria.Those comply with and exceed The University of California,San Francisco (UCSF) criteria were 73 cases (67.6％) and 35 cases (32.4％),respectively.103 cases were cadaveric donor liver transplantation (CDLT) and 14 cases of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) with no significant difference between the two groups in postoperative survival rate (P =0.911).Age(P =0.048),microvascular invasion(P =0.001),over UCSF criteria(P =0.013),and the grading of tumor differentiation(P =0.015) were major factors of tumor recurrence after transplantation.Conclusion Appropriate selection criteria,perioperative comprehensive treatment and effective control of recurrence are the keys for improving survival rate of liver transplantation recipients for HCC.