Table 3 Differential diagnosis of well differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma from benign hepatocellular nodules
From: Neoplasms of the liver
Hepatocellular | Hepatocellular | Dysplastic | |
|---|---|---|---|
carcinoma | adenoma | nodule | |
Cirrhosis in surrounding liver | 80% | 0% | 100% |
Portal areas | Absent | Absent | Present |
Growth patterns | Trabecular | Sheet-like | 2-cell thick plates |
Pseudoglandular | Nodule-in-nodule (high-grade) | ||
Compact | |||
Nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio | High | Low | Low |
Nuclear pleomorphism | Present or absent | Absent | Absent |
Nucleoli | Frequent | Absent | Absent |
Mitoses | Occasional | Absent | Absent |
Vascular invasion | Frequent | Absent | Absent |
Stains | |||
Reticulin | Decreased | Present | Present |
CD34 | Diffuse | Variable | Periseptal |
