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Characterization of hyperplastic foci observed in surgical specimens of hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Kato Kazuki,
Ozaki Daisuke,
Zheng Kefei,
Kondo Fukuo,
Urashima Tetsuro,
Asano Takehide,
Ochiai Takenori,
Suzuki Yoshio,
Ebara Masaaki,
Saisho Hiromitsu,
Kondo Yoichiro
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
pathology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1827
pISSN - 1320-5463
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1827.2001.01149.x
Subject(s) - hepatocellular carcinoma , parenchyma , pathology , liver parenchyma , cirrhosis , carcinoma , immunohistochemistry , biology , medicine , cancer research , gastroenterology
By reviewing previous surgical specimens of hepatocellular carcinoma, 17 cases with hyperplastic foci (HPF) characterized by discernible increase in nuclear densities, could be histologically selected. Nuclear densities of HPF and control hepatic parenchyma were assessed quantitatively by counting the nuclear number of hepatic cells, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index was measured. HPF occurred multifocally, confined within a lobular unit, smoothly merging into surrounding hepatic parenchyma. Nuclear densities of HPF were 1.71 times greater than those of control hepatic parenchyma. The hepatocytes of HPF also showed significantly higher proliferative activities than those of control parenchyma. In addition, noticeable structural distortions, such as focal trabecular thickening or microacinar formation of hepatocytes, were sometimes observed in HPF. However, these HPF seemed to be distinguished from minute de novo hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or intrahepatic HCC metastasis, because of paucity of distinctive atypical changes, and intimate correlation with neighboring hepatocytes. Several adjacent HPF were aggregated to form a much larger unit of a hyperplastic area with loss of fibrous septa of liver cirrhosis. It was suggested that grossly detectable large regenerative nodules are produced via fusion of several adjacent HPF.