OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinicopathologic characteristics of well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (WD-HCC), and to find clues for its pathologic diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

METHODSSeventy-three cases of WD-HCC were studied with clinical data analysis, gross and microscopic examination.

RESULTSAmong the 73 cases, the prevalence of HBV (+) and/or HCV (+) was 94.5% (69/73), liver cirrhosis was 80.8% (59/73), increased hepatic cell density was 95.9% (70/73), dilated and irregular hepatic sinus was 89.0% (65/73), prominent trabecularism was 89.0% (65/73), increased cytoplasmic eosinophilia or basophilia was 90.4% (66/73), glandular-like structure was 16.4% (12/73, and fatty degeneration was 42.4% (31/73) .

CONCLUSIONSThere are important clinicopathologic features associated with WD-HCC. These features are useful in the differential diagnosis of WD-HCC with dysplastic nodule (DN), focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) and hepatocellular adenoma.

Adenoma, Liver Cell ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; virology ; Cell Count ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Focal Nodular Hyperplasia ; pathology ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; virology

OBJECTIVETo study the expression and significance of GPC3, CD10 and CD34 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), dysplastic nodules (DN), cirrhotic regenerative nodules (CRN), focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) and hepatocellular adenoma (HA).

METHODSImmunohistochemical study for GPC3, CD10, CD34 and AFP was performed on 80 cases of HCC (30 cases of well-differentiated HCC and 50 cases of advanced HCC), 30 cases of DN (18 cases of high-grade DN and 12 cases of low-grade DN), 36 cases of CRN, 20 cases of FNH and 20 cases of HA.

RESULTS(1) The positive expression rate of GPC3 was 92% (46/50) in advanced HCC, 66.7% (20/30) in well-differentiated HCC, 2/18 in high-grade DN, and 0 in low-grade DN, CRN, FNH and HA. The expression rate of GPC3 in well-differentiated HCC was lower than that in advanced HCC and higher than that in high-grade DN (P < 0.05). (2) The negative expression rate of CD10 was 78% (39/50) in advanced HCC, 43.3% (13/30) in well-differentiated HCC, 20% (4/20 and 4/20) in both FNH and HA, 2.8% (1/36) in CRN and 0 in both high-grade DN and low-grade DN. The occurrence of CD10-strongly positive cells was 2% (1/50) in advanced HCC, 16.7% (5/30) in well-differentiated HCC, 15/18 in high-grade DN, 11/12 in low-grade DN, 80.6% (29/36) in CRN and 60% (12/20 and 12/20) in both FNH and HA. The positive expression rate of CD10 in well-differentiated HCC was higher than that in advanced HCC and lower than that in high-grade DN, low-grade DN, CRN, FNH and HA (P < 0.05). (3) The positive expression rates of CD34 in advanced HCC and well-differentiated HCC ranged from 25% to 100% [and strongly positive in 76% (38/50) and 70% (21/30), respectively]. The rates in high-grade DN and low-grade DN ranged from 5% to 25% (and weakly positive in 16/18 and 10/12, respectively). In CRN, the rate ranged from 0 to 5% [and weakly positive in 27.8% (10/36)]. In FNH and HA, the positive rates ranged from 25% to 50%. The positive expression rate of CD34 in well-differentiated HCC was significantly higher than that in high-grade DN, low-grade DN, CRN, FNH and HA (P < 0.05). (4) The positive expression rate of AFP was 44% (22/50) in advanced HCC, 20% (6/30) in well-differentiated HCC, no expression in DN, LCN, LCN, FNH and HA. The positive expression rate of AFP in well-differentiated HCC was lower than that in advanced HCC and higher than that in LCN, FNH and HA. The different expression had statistical significance (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSGPC3 is a relatively sensitive and specific marker in pathologic diagnosis of HCC. When coupled with immunohistochemical results of CD34, CD10 and AFP, GPC3 is useful in differentiating HCC from DN, LCN, FNH and HA.

Adenoma, Liver Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Focal Nodular Hyperplasia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Glypicans ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver Cirrhosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neprilysin ; metabolism ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism

Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is the second most common benign hepatic tumor that is usually found in women. Diagnosis of FNH mainly depends on imaging studies such as color Doppler flow imaging, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. It is characterized by the presence of stellate central scar and is nowadays incidentally diagnosed with increasing frequency due to advances in radiologic imaging technique. FNH typically presents as a single lesion in 70% of cases and generally does not progress to malignancy or recur after resection. Herein, we report a case of a young male patient with recurrent multiple FNH who underwent surgical resection for presumed hepatic adenoma on computed tomography.
Adenoma, Liver Cell/diagnosis/pathology ; Bile Ducts/pathology/surgery ; Contrast Media/diagnostic use ; Focal Nodular Hyperplasia/*diagnosis/pathology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

Adenoma, Liver Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Focal Nodular Hyperplasia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver ; chemistry ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; biosynthesis ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Adenoma, Liver Cell/*diagnosis/diagnostic imaging/pathology ; Aged ; Antigens, CD34/metabolism ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic/pathology ; C-Reactive Protein/metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*diagnosis/diagnostic imaging/pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Serum Amyloid A Protein/metabolism ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) of liver.

METHODSThe clinical, radiologic, pathologic findings and follow-up data of 238 cases of FNH were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThe patients included 93 females and 145 males. The age of the patients ranged from 11 to 77 years (median = 39.1 years). Amongst the 233 patients who had clinical information available, 188 were asymptomatic, 216 had no history of hepatitis B and/or C infection and 232 had negative serum alpha-fetoprotein level. Amongst the 185 patients who had undergone radiologic examination, 123 (66.5%) were accurately diagnosed as such. Macroscopically, of the 284 lesions from 238 patients, the average diameter was 3.7 cm. Two hundred and fifteen cases (90.3%) were solitary, 172 cases were located in the right lobe and 115(40.5%) had central stellate fibrotic scars or lobulated cut surface. Histologically, 229 lesions belonged to classic type and 9 lesions were of non-classic type. The latter was further classified as the telangiectatic form (6 lesions) and the mixed hyperplastic and adenomatous form (3 lesions). There was no evidence of significant cytologic atypia. Follow-up data were available in 173 patients (72.7%). None of them died of the disease and 2 patients suffered from relapses after 2 and 4 years, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSFNH is a hyperplastic response of normal liver cells to local blood flow anomalies. It has no obvious sex predilection and more than 66% can be diagnosed accurately with radiologic examination. The lesions in the current study show no cytologic atypia.

Adenoma, Liver Cell ; pathology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Focal Nodular Hyperplasia ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Since pancreatic endocrine tumors (PET) are rare and heterogeneous diseases, their survival and prognosis are not well known. Due to recent advances in CT/MRI technology, incidentalomas of the pancreas are detected with increasing frequency. This study presents results of clinical manifestations of PET and predictive factors associated with survival. METHODS: From year 1990 through 2006, medical records of 98 patients (56 men, 42 women) who were diagnosed as PET pathologically at Seoul National University Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Ages ranged from 17 to 76 years (mean 51.6+/-1.3 years) with a mean follow-up of 3.6+/-0.4 years (range 0-10.1 years). Overall 5-year survival rate was 68.1%, and 5-year survival rate of the patients who had distant metastases at initial diagnosis was 43.9%. Functioning tumors [hazard ratio (HR) 0.229, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.056-0.943, p=0.041] and lymph node or liver metastases (HR 5.537, 95% CI 2.106-14.555, p<0.001) were the significant prognostic factors associated with survival rate. However, tumor size and pathology showed no significant association with survival. CONCLUSIONS: Because small and pathologically benign nature do not predict good prognosis in PET, aggressive treatment such as curative resection would be considered initially even in the case of incidental PET.
Adenoma, Islet Cell/*diagnosis/epidemiology/*mortality ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis/secondary ; Lymph Nodes/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*diagnosis/epidemiology/*mortality ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: Recently, the importance of early diagnosis and early treatment has been increasing, and there are many cases where tumors have been discovered incidentally. However, due to lack of reports regarding pancreatic cases, the clear management plan remains in dispute. This study attempted to analyse pancreatic cases so as to offer a management direction. METHODS: From October 1994 to May 1999, we experienced 28 cases of incidentally discovered pancreatic tumors and those cases were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: In regards to initial referrals for diagnosis, 19 cases were from general medical examinations, and 9 cases were referred due to symptoms or signs not related to their tumors (2 cases with hepatitis B, 2 cases with lung lesions, 1 case with a gastric leiomyosarcoma, 1 case with vaginal bleeding, 1 case with acute enteritis, 1 case with a toothache and 1 case with a headache). Twenty cases were initially detected from abdominal US, 3 cases from abdominal CT, 2 case from chest CT, 2 case from the simple abdomen, and 1 case from CA 19-9 investigation. The accuracies for diagnosing the precise type of tumor were CT 42.3% (11/26), ERCP 15.3% (2/13), abdominal US 12.5%, and (3/24). Postoperative pathologies included 7 serous cystadenomas, 6 solid-pseudopapillary tumors, 4 mucinous cystic neoplasms, 4 nonfunctioning islet cell tumors, 2 intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, 2 simple cysts, 1 ductal adenocarcinoma, 1 benign retension cyst, and 1 pseudocyst. Among these were 5 malignant neoplasms (3 nonfunctional islet cell tumors, 1 ductal adenocarcinoma, and 1 mucinous cystic neoplasm), and 17 cases (60.7%) were premalignant tumors. All cases were treated with a pancreatic resection, and postoperative follow-up was carried out for a period of 3-66 months. During thisperiod, no recurrence or mortality was noted other than 1 case of liver metastasis 12 months postoperatively for ductal adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION: Although presence of a ductal adenocarcinoma is rare in incidentally discovered pancreatic tumors pancreatic incidentaloma is common in premalignant neoplasms. Therefore, even in asymptomatic cases, aggressive surgical resection is necessary for accurate diagnosis and early treatment.
Abdomen ; Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoma, Islet Cell ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cystadenoma, Serous ; Diagnosis ; Dissent and Disputes ; Early Diagnosis ; Enteritis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B ; Leiomyosarcoma ; Liver ; Lung ; Mass Screening* ; Mortality ; Mucins ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreatic Neoplasms* ; Pathology ; Recurrence ; Referral and Consultation ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Toothache ; Uterine Hemorrhage