Among 200 deaths from liver cirrhosis the clinical and autopsy records of 30 histologically confirmed cases of primary liver carcinoma (PLC) were reviewed. Male to female ratio was 5:1. Biopsy-proven liver lesions reflected chronic liver disease, mainly cirrhosis. Autopsy-PLC detected was classified as hepatocellular carcinoma (21 cases) with trabecular and pseudoglandular histological pattern, cholangiocarcinoma (two cases), and hemangiosarcoma. This retrospective analysis pointed to the relationship between PLC and liver cirrhosis, the latter being the primary risk factor for the incidence of PLC in Slovenia (Yugoslavia).