Three types of liver cell dysplasia (LCD) in small cirrhotic nodules are distinguishable by karyometry and PCNA labelling, and their features resemble distinct grades of hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

We have studied the occurrence and specific features of li\er cell dysplasia (LCD) in Chinese patients showing li\.er cirrhosis with or without hepatocellular carciiioina (HCC). Three types of LCD (SLCD, LLCDo. LLCDe) were rnorphologically defined. and these types were further analyzed using karyoinetry, estiniation of nucleic acid conteiit and deiisity, and PCNA iinmuiiostaiiiing. Features found for three types of LCD were coniparetl with those of normal hepatocytes (NLC). siinple regei~eratiiig hepatocytes (SRLC), and cells of HCCs covering different grades. The results show that 1 ) Aaryoinetry arid nucleic acid parameters allow an objecti\,e separation of LCD types both from NLC aiid SRLC; 2) karyometric features of LLCDe are most cloile to those of tiighly differentiated HCCs. whereas nuclear size nnd chroin~itinc omposition of SLCD closely 1-etlect those of poorly differentiated HCCs: 3) the frequency of LCD cluster.; was higher iii cirrhotic livers carrying HCC. being about douhle for al1 three LCD types: 4) the h i ~ h e sP~CN A labelling occurred in the small cell group of LCD (SLCD), still, however, beiiig smaller tlian that of simple i-egenerating hepatocytes. Based on these fiiidiiiys i t i \ suggested that, similar tu atypical adenoinatous hyperplasia, LCDs of distinct inorphotypes riiay represent precursor lesions for HCC, aiid soine cellular forms niay mimick cell types known to occur in experiinental carcinogenesis.