Two patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma underwent reoperation following percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) and transarterial embolization (TAE). In the first case, although the nodules where the accumulation of Lipiodol (LpD) was seen showed complete necrosis, viable cancer cells were seen in the areas with slight accumulation of LpD. One nodule with no accumulation of LpD where PEIT seemed to have been performed, developed necrosis. In the second case, the nodules with LpI) accumulation also showed almost complete necrosis. The area where PEIT was performed was mixed with necrosis and bleeding, where a small viable cancer nodule existed. The reason for incomplete anticancer effects by PEIT seemed to be the too small ethanol injection.