AIM To explore the pathomorphological characteristics of large hepatocellular carcinoma (LHCC) with low level serum AFP. METHODS Specimens obtained from surgically resected LHCC with negative or low level serum AFP...AIM To explore the pathomorphological characteristics of large hepatocellular carcinoma (LHCC) with low level serum AFP. METHODS Specimens obtained from surgically resected LHCC with negative or low level serum AFP were fixed in formalin, embedded in paraffin and made into serial sections. Routine HE and immunohistochemical stains (LSAB method) for AFP, EMA, etc. were adopted. Some characteristics of histopathological changes and immunohistochemical reactions of the cancerous tissues were observed under light microscope. RESULTS The majority of the cases (19/30) of LHCC with negative or low level serum AFP belonged to clear cell type HCC, in which 2 were found AFP positive, with the location of AFP positive reactant in the periphery of the cytoplasm. CONCLUSION The clear cell is the morphological manifestation of disturbance in glycogen and/or lipid metabolism of hepatoma cells. Such changes might be one of the factors hindering the synthesis of AFP and resulting in negative or low level serum AFP of the patient.展开更多
文摘AIM To explore the pathomorphological characteristics of large hepatocellular carcinoma (LHCC) with low level serum AFP. METHODS Specimens obtained from surgically resected LHCC with negative or low level serum AFP were fixed in formalin, embedded in paraffin and made into serial sections. Routine HE and immunohistochemical stains (LSAB method) for AFP, EMA, etc. were adopted. Some characteristics of histopathological changes and immunohistochemical reactions of the cancerous tissues were observed under light microscope. RESULTS The majority of the cases (19/30) of LHCC with negative or low level serum AFP belonged to clear cell type HCC, in which 2 were found AFP positive, with the location of AFP positive reactant in the periphery of the cytoplasm. CONCLUSION The clear cell is the morphological manifestation of disturbance in glycogen and/or lipid metabolism of hepatoma cells. Such changes might be one of the factors hindering the synthesis of AFP and resulting in negative or low level serum AFP of the patient.
