Objective:To investigate the risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) combined with portal vein tumor thrombus(PVTT). Methods:Retrospective analysis was conducted for 126 HCC patients chosen at random in the department of hepatobiliary surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical Uni-versity from April 2009 to April 2011. Alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) level(400 ng/ml is the dividing line),with or without the PVTT,tumor size,cell differentiation grade(Edmondson-Steiner grade),tumor number,gender and vascular invasion were observed. Chi-square test and non-conditional logistic regression analysis were adopted to do statistical analysis. Results:Totally 126 patients were diagnosed as HCC including 56 HCC patients combined with PVTT(44.4%). Vascular invasion,tumor size,high level of AFP,cell differentiation grade,tumor number were the risk factors for PVTT formation(χ2=20.97,13.67,4.73,5.04,all P<0.05). Vascular invasion,tumor size,cell differentiation grade were the risk factors for AFP(χ2=8.121,4.038,all P<0.05). AFP and vascular invasion were the independent risk factors for PVTT. Conclusion:High leveled AFP could become one risk factor for HCC patients combined with PVTT,which can help to find or treat PVTT at early stage.