DCP is an important risk factor for recurrence after radiofrequency ablation of single hepatocellular carcinoma -< 3cm in diameter R. Kuromatsu 1 , A. Takata 1 , N. Fukushima 1 , S. Sumie 1 , M. Nakano 1 1 Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine Background and aims: The aim is to analyze the risk factors for local recurrence + intrahepatic metastasis after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and hepatic resection (Hr) for single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) < 3cm in diameter. Methods: Between 1999 and 2007, 219 patients with single nodule < 3cm in diameter and Child-Pugh grade A were treated by Hr and RFA, and recurrence rate and survival rate using Kaplan-Meier method, and important risk factors for recurrence using Cox's proportional-hazards regression model were analyzed. Factors used for multivariate analyses were age, gender, viral marker, tumor diameter, AFP, AFP-L3, DCP, and platelet count. Results: Mean age was 66 years old, M/F ratio was 136/83, Hr/RFA was 59/160, and mean observation period was 1194 days. Five-year survival rates, and 2-year local recurrence-free + intrahepatic metastasis-free rates were not significant between Hr group and RFA group (82/72%, 92/89%). In RFA group, the only independent risk factor for local recurrence-free + intrahepatic metastasis-free survival was DCP (P=0.0034). Tumor diameter was not significant for recurrence. In Hr group, there was no risk factor for recurrence. In pathological analyses of Hr group, DCP had a tendency to associate with microvascular invasion (P=0.065).