The clinical and pathological features of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) in 26 patients who had survived over 10 years after operation were analyzed. The results were as follows: 84.62% (22 patients) were detected by AFP screening, 80.77% (21 patients) were in clinical stage I, 76.96% (20 patients) were younger than 45 years of age. Serum AFP of all patients turned negative within 2 months after operation. The tumor diameters ranged from 1.2 cm to 15 cm, and solitary tumors accounted for 80.77% (21 patients). All tumors were encapsulated and infiltrated by lymphocytes. Cirrhosis was found only in 9 cases (34.62%). The positive rates of HBsAg and HBcAg were 80% and 15% respectively in hepatic tissues surrounding the carcinoma. These results suggest that good prognosis or long survival is related to early detection, younger age of the patient, solitary tumor, better encapsulation, mild injury of the surrounding liver tissues, and rapid negative turning of AFP after operation.