title: Cancer stem cells in primary liver cancers: pathological concepts and imaging findings.
abstract: There is accumulating evidence that cancer stem cells (CSCs) play an integral role in the initiation of hepatocarcinogenesis and the maintaining of tumor growth. Liver CSCs derived from hepatic stem/progenitor cells have the potential to differentiate into either hepatocytes or cholangiocytes. Primary liver cancers originating from CSCs constitute a heterogeneous histopathologic spectrum, including hepatocellular carcinoma, combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma, and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with various radiologic manifestations. In this article, we reviewed the recent concepts of CSCs in the development of primary liver cancers, focusing on their pathological and radiological findings. Awareness of the pathological concepts and imaging findings of primary liver cancers with features of CSCs is critical for accurate diagnosis, prediction of outcome, and appropriate treatment options for patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 110-744, Korea.
authors.forename: Ijin
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 463-707, Korea.
authors.forename: Haeryoung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 110-744, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Cancer stem cell; Cholangiocarcinoma; Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver cancer