Dysplastic nodules and small primary carcinoma of the liver: a study detecting the early morphological changes during hepatocarcinogenesis.
OBJECTIVE
Detect the early histological changes relating to human hepatocarcinogenesis in three nodular hepatocellular lesions.


METHODS
Three cases of dysplastic nodules and one of small hepatocellular carcinoma were obtained from the authors' surgical-pathology file during 2000-2005 for a histopathological study in relevance to the early changes during hepatocarcinogenesis by employing hematoxylin and eosin stain, as well as some immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
One nodular hepatocellular lesion, diagnosed as a complex lesion of focal nodular hyperplasia contained a microscopic focus (1.5 mm in diameter) of combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
The small dysplastic hepatocytes subjected to neoplastic transformation combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma and are the precursorial cells of hepatocellular carcinoma. Chronic viral hepatitis B or C, aflatoxin B, and nitrosamine(s), as well as some nodular hepatocellular lesions share distinct roles in the complex process of hepatocarcinogenesis pertaining to this Southeast Asian country.
Sornmayura
Pattana
P
Department of Pathology, Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.
Boonsakan
Paisan
P
Sobhonslidsuk
Abhasnee
A
Sriphojanart
Suthus
S
Euanorasetr
Chakrapan
C
Bunyaratvej
Sukhum
S
D000328:Adult; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors