A critical review of the literature is presented concerning prognostic factors in hepatocarcinoma, notably after surgical resection. Several factors would not seem to play an important prognostic role: age, liver function, alpha fetoprotein level or histological staging of the tumor. Other debatable factors include: sex, since females have a better prognosis, the existence of cirrhosis and the surgical margin of security. On the other hand the situation is clear regarding several other factors such as: size of the tumor, the severity of cirrhosis, the number of nodules, the macroscopic existence of a capsule and the presence or otherwise of portal invasion.