Efficacy and feasibility of surgery and external radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal invasion: A meta-analysis

•HCC with PVT was difficult to be applied local treatment and the life expectancy was less than 3 months previously.•Surgery was performed for patients in favorable condition, and EBRT was used for patients including those with main PVT or poorer hepatic function.•The pooled 1-year survival after EBRT and surgery were 44% and 65%, respectively, and side effects were acceptable.•Combined EBRT and surgery showed favorable result with a pooled 1-year survival rate of 77.1%.•EBRT and surgery are useful for HCC with PVT; better results can be expected with combination therapy in future studies.