Whether or not serum selenium concentrations were changed was evaluated in patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Serum selenium levels among the patients with liver cirrhosis (10.08±1.99 ug/dl) and hepatocellular carcinoma (9.76±1.51 ug/dl) were significantly lower (p<0.05, p<0.005) as compared to the controls (11.49±1.77 pg/dl). These data suggest that a low serum selenium concnetrations observed in patients with liver cirrhosis may be one of risk factors in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.