title: Metastases in cases with hepatocellular carcinoma in relation to clinicopathologic features of the tumor. An autopsy study from a low endemic area.
abstract: In order to study clinicopathologic features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their relation to metastatic growth, all autopsied cases with confirmed HCC (n = 490) from a period with a high autopsy frequency in a well-defined population were analyzed. Cirrhosis, usually of micronodular type, was found in 72%. The gross appearance of the tumour was predominantly massive (46%) or multinodular (42%). The tumour involved both liver lobes in 72% or the right lobe alone in 20%. Histologically, trabecular growth (79%) and grade II of differentiation (52%) prevailed. Vascular invasion was noted in 56%, whereas involvement of the biliary tract was unusual (4%). Metastases especially involved lymph nodes (42%), lungs (18%) and skeleton (17%). Increased weight of the liver, multinodular appearance, involvement of both liver lobes, low grade of differentiation and vascular invasion were significantly associated with presence of metastases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Göteborg, Ostra Sjukhuset, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaczynski
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hansson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wallerstedt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000556:secondary*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies