title: [A clinicopathological study of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the clinicopathological features of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH).
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinicopathological characteristics of 25 cases of FNH were studied retrospectively. 20 cases followed for 6 to 47 months. All were evaluated by use of paraffin-embedded sections, special and immunohistochemical staining (EnVision method) and electron microscope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  17 female and 8 male FNH patients aged 14 to 58 (median 38) years of age, all alpha-fetoprotein negative, asymptomatic and normal biochemical liver tests in most cases. The macroscopic hallmark is a central stellate fibrotic scar, composed of fibrous connective tissue and tortuous blood vessels, the fibrous tissue radiated peripherally, dividing the mass into multiple, variably sized nodules, simulating the pattern of cirrhosis. Microscopically, multinodular proliferation of benign-appearing hepatocytes separated by bile-duct-containing fibrous septae that radiate from the central scar. Internodular bile duct proliferation is abundant and merge imperceptibly with the hepatocyte elements near the fibrous septa. Immunohistochemically, the keratin expessed by hepatocytes and by the proliferated bile ducts were similar. Electron microscopic examination found that the ultrastructure of tumor cells were similar to normal hepatocytes. 20 cases were followed for 6-47 months, all survived with no recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FNH is a benign hepatocytic lesion, i.e. a reactive proliferation of hepatic cells to local blood vessel anomalies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Zhongshan Hospital of Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D020518:Focal Nodular Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053552:Keratin-7; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: C507497:KRT7 protein, human; D053552:Keratin-7; D007633:Keratins