The recommendations provided in this document provide a data-supported approach to the diagnosis, staging and treatment of patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). They are based on the following: (a) formal review and analysis of the recently-published world literature on the topic (Medline search through early 2010); (b) American College of Physicians Manual for Assessing Health Practices and Designing Practice Guidelines; (c) guideline policies, including the AASLD Policy on the Development and Use of Practice Guidelines and the American Gastroenterology Association Policy Statement on Guidelines; (d) the experience of the authors. These recommendations suggest preferred approaches to the diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive aspects of care. In an attempt to characterize the quality of evidence supporting recommendations, the Practice Guidelines Committee of the American Association for Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) requires a category to be assigned and reported with each recommendation (Table 1). These recommendations are fully endorsed by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.