title: Recent developments in liver pathology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatocellular carcinoma is the sixth most common malignancy and the third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, making pathologic identification of precursor lesions essential. Recent molecular genetic, pathologic, and clinical data have led to the stratification of hepatic adenomas into subgroups with unique molecular profiles and varying potential for malignant transformation, as well as to the reclassification of telangiectatic focal nodular hyperplasia as telangiectatic adenoma. Clinical, morphologic, and molecular genetic studies have also established juvenile hemochromatosis and pediatric nonalcoholic steatohepatitis as entities distinct from their adult counterparts.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the recent molecular genetic characterization of telangiectatic hepatic adenomas and juvenile hemochromatosis, as well as the recent clinicopathologic characterization of pediatric nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature review, personal experience, and material from the University of Chicago.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Basic science and translational research have led to the classification of many pathologic entities of the liver according to molecular genetic and protein expression profiles that correspond to traditional morphologic categories. Insights into signal transduction pathways that are activated in, and protein expression patterns unique to, an individual disease may lead to the development of new therapeutic agents and novel diagnostic biomarkers.
authors: Department of Pathology, University of Chicago Hospitals, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
authors: Benjamin C
authors: BC
authors: Yan
authors: John A
authors: JA
authors: Hart
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D006432:Hemochromatosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor