Objective To explore the diagnosis and treatment for patients with portal vein thrombosis or tumor embolus in perioperative period of liver transplantation. Methods Eight patients at terminal stage of liver diseases and with portal vein thrombosis or tumor embolus underwent liver transplantation in this hospitatal from October 1999 to January 2006. Their clinical information and survival situation were retrospectively analyzed. Results It was diagnosed correctly before operations that portal vein thrombosis or tumor embolus occurred in 8 patients of 61 patients (13.1%) who underwent liver transplantation (grade Ⅰ: 3 cases; grade Ⅱ: 5 cases). The thrombosis in the portal vein of 6 cases were dislodged and the portal vein with tumor embolus were removed in 2 patients who underwent end-to-end anastomosis. All patients received anticogulation therapy after operations. The post-operative 6-month survival rate was 62.5%. Conclusion Accurate diagnosis before operation, correct method of surgery and reasonable management after operation may have significant effects on the patients with portal vein thrombosis or tumor embolus.