title: Hepatic precancerous lesions and small hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Precancerous lesions that may be detected in chronically diseased, usually cirrhotic livers, include: clusters of hepatocytes with atypia and increased proliferative rate (dysplastic foci) that usually represent an incidental finding in biopsy or resection specimens; and grossly evident lesions (dysplastic nodules) that may be detected on radiologic examination. There are two types of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (defined as HCC that measures less than 2 cm): early HCC, which is well-differentiated and has indistinct margins; and distinctly nodular small HCC, which is well- or moderately differentiated, and is usually surrounded by a fibrous capsule. Precise diagnosis of precancerous and early cancerous lesions by imaging methods is often difficult or impossible. Detection of a dysplastic lesion in a biopsy specimen is a marker of increased risk for HCC development, and warrants increased surveillance. High-grade dysplastic nodules and small HCCs should be treated by local ablation, surgical resection, or liver transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Aristotle University Medical School, 54006 Thessaloniki, Greece. phitir@med.auth.gr
authors.forename: Prodromos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hytiroglou
authors.forename: Young Nyun
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Krinsky
authors.forename: Neil D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Theise
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index