Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive alpha-fetoprotein and protein induced by vitamin K absence II are potential indicators of a poor prognosis: a histopathological study of surgically resected hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: We histopathologically examined Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive alpha-fetoprotein (AFP-L3)-positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and protein induced by vitamin K absence (PIVKA) II-positive HCC to clarify the efficacy of these markers for predicting a poor prognosis.

Methods: Serum AFP-L3 and PIVKA II was measured in 110 HCC patients. AFP-L3 was measured by lectin-affinity electrophoresis coupled with antibody-affinity blotting, and PIVKA II by using a high-sensitivity kit.

Clinicopathological study of scirrhous hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background And Aims: Scirrhous hepatocellular carcinoma (SHCC) is characterized by diffuse fibrosis of the tumor, however, its clinicopathological features are not fully clarified. This study aimed to clarify the clinicopathological features of SHCC.

Methods: Among 546 consecutively resected HCC without preoperative anticancer therapies, 25 SHCC were selected for the study and compared with 521 cases without scirrhous as the control.

Value of fusing PET plus CT images in hepatocellular carcinoma and combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma patients with extrahepatic metastases: preliminary findings.

Background/aims: This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography (PET) and PET plus computed tomography (CT) fusion images for the detection of extrahepatic metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma (combined HCC/CC).

Methods: Twenty-one patients with HCC and combined HCC/CC were enrolled in the study from December 2004 to February 2005. In all patients, PET and CT of the chest to pelvis region were performed.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) is thought to be an important factor in tumor angiogenesis/lymphangiogenesis, but its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not yet been fully investigated.

Methods: We immunohistochemically examined VEGF-C expression in surgically resected tissues of 90 HCC.

Results: In the 78 HCC with a single histological grade, VEGF-C expression was significantly stronger in poorly differentiated HCC than in well- (P=0.

Pathomorphological study on small nodular lesions in hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis.

We examined pathomorphologically small nodular lesions in hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis (type C cirrhosis). Small nodular lesions seen in the non-cancerous areas of 128 consecutively resected hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) associated with type C cirrhosis were selected for the study. From these, 18 large regenerative nodules (LRNs), 14 low-grade dysplastic nodules (LDNs), 10 high-grade DNs (HDNs), and 12 well-differentiated HCCs were detected.

Unique hypervascular nodules in alcoholic liver cirrhosis: identical to focal nodular hyperplasia-like nodules?

Background/aims: Currently, focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH)-like nodules in cirrhotic liver is spotlighted. Unique hypervascular nodules mimicking FNH-like nodule in alcoholic liver cirrhosis were clinicopathologically clarified.

Methods: Six resected and six biopsy cases of small hypervascular nodules found in alcoholic cirrhosis were studied clinicopathologically.