A morphometric study of liver cell dysplasia.
Thirty-seven cases of cirrhosis with large liver cell dysplasia (LLCD) were evaluated by morphometric analysis and the results compared with those in 11 cases of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive cirrhosis, 12 cases of cirrhosis with nodules of active regeneration, 15 cases of hepatocellular carcinomas, and 15 cases of inactive cirrhosis. The nuclear-cytoplasmic, nucleolar-cytoplasmic, and nucleolar-nuclear ratios of LLCD were significantly higher than those observed in all other nonneoplastic groups. Whereas the nuclear-cytoplasmic and nucleolar-cytoplasmic ratios of hepatocellular carcinoma cells were significantly higher than those measured in dysplastic cells, the latter had a nucleolar-nuclear ratio similar to that of neoplastic cells. These results show that, in contrast to previously accepted criteria, the nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio of LLCD is increased and that some morphometric features of LLCD are consistent with its supposed premalignant nature. The usefulness of a morphometric analysis in evaluating any group of abnormal-appearing hepatocytes is stressed.
Roncalli
M
M
Department of Pathology, Fatebenefratelli and Oftalmico Hospital of Milan, Italy.
Borzio
M
M
Tombesi
M V
MV
Ferrari
A
A
Servida
E
E
D001706:Biopsy; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged