Small hepatocellular carcinoma refers to the single tumor nodule with maximum diameter ≤3cm in hepatocellular carcinoma, and the main purpose of preferred surgical treatment is to achieve radical resection effect and prolong patients’ survival time. Surgery is the first choice for treating small hepatocellular carcinoma, at this time, the liver cancer lesion is small and has not spread, so surgical resection can prolong the survival time of the patient, improve the quality of life of the patient, and alleviate some adverse reactions. However, not all patients with small liver cancer can choose surgery. Radical surgery is mainly for patients in the early stage of small liver cancer, whose cancer cells have not metastasized or spread to other parts of the body, and if timely surgery is performed, the 5-year survival rate after surgery can reach 70%. Once diagnosed with small liver cancer, it is recommended to go to the hospital as soon as possible for examination to know the type of small liver cancer, and then take the best treatment according to the classification to control the progress of the disease.