Value of copper-associated protein in diagnostic assessment of liver biopsy.
Of 1361 consecutive liver biopsy specimens, 24% contained orcein-positive granules. The highest incidence of positivity was found in biliary disease (90.9%), long before cirrhosis had developed, whereas in chronic non-primarily biliary disease, positive results were almost exclusively in patients with well established cirrhosis. Orcein-positive granules were never found in acute liver disease. These granules were also demonstrated in tumour cells of primary hepatocellular tumours (benign 4 of 4 cases; malignant 9 of 37 cases), while all the secondary tumour deposits were negative. In our view the additional information obtained by this technique warrants its adoption as a routine procedure.
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis / Q000473:pathology*; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000473:pathology; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008667:Metalloproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000032:analysis*; D010078:Oxazines; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D004396:Coloring Agents; D008667:Metalloproteins; D010078:Oxazines; C007121:copper thionein; C002313:PAcein; D008668:Metallothionein