Abstract: Objective To investigate the efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)plus laparoscopic radiofrenquency ablation(LRFA)in treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)in comparison with LRFA alone. Methods Clinical data about 66 cases diagnosed as HCC were retrospectively analyzed in 302 Military Hospital of PLA from July 2010 to September 2011.According to the different treatment methods, patients were divided into LRFA alone group(n=34)and TACE plus LRFA group(n=32).Recurrence rate of tumor after one year of operation, overall survival and recurrence-free survival of two different treatment modalities were compared. Results Tumor recurrence rate of 1 year, postoperative survival rate of 1-, 2-, and 3-year and postoperative recurrence-free survival rate of 1-, 2-, and 3-year for LRFA alone group was 67.65%, 79.41%, 52.94%, 41.18%, 70.59%, 41.17%, 35.29%, respectively.The combined group was 37.50%, 90.63%, 78.13%, 56.25%, 81.25%, 59.38%, 53.13%, respectively, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P=0.000-0.033).The postoperative adverse reactions of patients in two groups were fever, local pain, liver function damage, nausea and vomiting, the occurrence rate between two groups were not statistically significant. Conclusion The efficacy of TACE plus LRFA in treatment of HCC is significantly better than LRFA alone.