Pathologic spectrum and prognostic significance of underlying liver disease in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Although controversy persists about the influence of cirrhosis on the incidence of portal vein invasion and other prognostic indicators of recurrence and survival (e.g., histologic grade, mitotic activity, multiplicity), it is clear that the degree of cirrhosis is important for the long-term survival of patients with HCC. Multicentricity is especially important because it reflects the field carcinogenesis associated with viral hepatitis and particularly chronic HCV infection [59]. A better understanding of the different mechanisms linked to tumor recurrence will help select the best candidates for curative surgery and help tailor adjuvant therapy, such as interferon therapy, to each patient [60]. Finally, the importance of vascular invasion, number of tumors, and tumor size of HCCs in addition to the effect of fibrosis has led Vauthey et al [20] to propose a simplified staging of HCC with better prognostication of survival.
Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Mari
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Mino
Gregory Y
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Lauwers
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis