The diagnostic value of angiography for small hepatocellular carcinoma was evaluated in comparison with histology, contrast-enhanced computed tomography, and ultrasonography. A total of 120 patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (less than 3 cm in size) were examined. The definitive detection rate for primary tumors less than 2 cm in size was 44.9% by angiography, while it was 68.6% for primary tumors between 2 cm and 3 cm in size. When the primary tumor was less than 2 cm in size and without tumor vessels on angiography, it tended to be of Edmondson's grade 1 and to show fatty change. When the primary tumor was less than 2 cm in size and without tumor stain while non-cancerous parenchyma showed irregular stain, it tended to be of Edmondson's grade 1 and normotrabecular type. Angiography was found to be of particular value in detecting satellite tumors with a nodular parenchymal echo pattern in non-cancerous areas, because ultrasonography often fails to differentiate these satellite tumors from non-affected parenchyma.