Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) management has evolved in the last decades. Current available treatments include interventional radiology like radiofrequency ablation, transarterial chemoembolization or Yttrium 90 radioembolization. Surgery, when possible, has been proven to be the most effective treatment in reducing the risk of long-term local recurrence. American and European societies (AASLD, EASL, respectively) guidelines for the management of HCC endorse The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) treatment allocation system. One drawback of the BCLC system is its restrictiveness regarding surgical indications. This present article aims in reviewing the indications of surgical resection for HCC.