Objective To analyze the characteristics and diagnostic value of ultrasonography and abdominal CT scan in patients with liver cancer. Methods The clinical data of 108 patients with liver cancer confirmed by operation and pathology in our hospital between January 2010 and June 2015 were collected. All patients underwent ultrasonography and abdominal CT examination after admission. The characteristics of ultrasonography and CT of liver cancer were summarized, and the value of both in clinical diagnosis of liver cancer was analyzed. Results Of the 138 lesions, 38 were massive type, 54 were nodular type and 46 were diffuse type. The accuracy of CT in detection of nodular type and diffuse type liver cancer was higher than ultrasonography (P<0.05). The accuracy of CT in the diagnosis of liver cancer (94.20%) was significantly higher than ultrasonography (79.71%) (P<0.05). Conclusion Abdominal CT is of high diagnostic value in liver cancer. CT enhanced scan and multi-phase scan can clearly show the changes of supplying vessels of liver cancer and display dynamic flow features of liver cancer.