title: Detection of chromosomal imbalances in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the liver. The discrimination between well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma and reactive lesions and benign tumors may be difficult, especially when performed on the basis of needle biopsies. A promising means of solving this problem is provided by chromosomal analysis of imbalances in hepatocellular carcinoma. This article describes the different approaches to ascertain differential diagnosis by chromosomal studies in a reliable and cost-effective manner. It is shown that in situ hybridization techniques provide a reliable means of defining chromosome alterations. These techniques allow the detection of genetic gains and losses of defined chromosomes in a histopathological context and can serve as a helpful tool in establishing diagnosis of liver cell proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cell and Molecular Pathology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. Wilkens.Ludwig@mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wilkens
authors.forename: Peer
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Flemming
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bredt
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kreipe
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D003582:Cytogenetics; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence