This article reviews methodological issues around screening for hepatocellular carcinoma, and discusses selection of the at‐risk group, which screening test to use, and how frequently it should be applied. Screening of patients at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma should be undertaken using ultrasonography applied at six‐month intervals. Patients at risk include all those with cirrhosis, and certain non‐cirrhotic patients withchronic hepatitis B. In this population, screening has been shown to reduce disease‐specific mortality. Although data do not exist for other populations, screening is nonetheless advised because small cancers can be cured with appreciable frequency.