The strengths and weaknesses of gross and histopathological evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma: a brief review
Abstract Careful pathological analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) specimens is essential for definitive diagnosis and patient prognostication. Tumor size and focality, gross patterns, macro- and microvascular invasion, degree of histological differentiation and expression of Keratin 19 (K19)...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-09-01
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| Series: | Surgical and Experimental Pathology |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42047-019-0047-6 |
| _version_ | 1818084776692678656 |
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| author | Sebastião N. Martins-Filho Venâncio Avancini Ferreira Alves |
| author_facet | Sebastião N. Martins-Filho Venâncio Avancini Ferreira Alves |
| author_sort | Sebastião N. Martins-Filho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Careful pathological analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) specimens is essential for definitive diagnosis and patient prognostication. Tumor size and focality, gross patterns, macro- and microvascular invasion, degree of histological differentiation and expression of Keratin 19 (K19) are relevant features for risk stratification in this cancer and have been validated by multiple independent cohorts. However, there are important limitations to pathological analyses in HCC. First, liver biopsies are not recommended for diagnosis according to current clinical guidelines. Second, there is limited morphological data from patients at intermediate, advanced and terminal disease stages. Finally, there is little consensus on the evaluation of key histopathological features, notably histological grading (degree of differentiation). Here, we review important morphological aspects of HCC, provide insights to molecular events in relation to phenotypic findings and explore the current limitations to pathological analyses in this cancer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T19:59:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9e00f1e406044289afa253255d53565d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2520-8454 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T19:59:16Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Surgical and Experimental Pathology |
| spelling | doaj.art-9e00f1e406044289afa253255d53565d2022-12-22T01:35:34ZengBMCSurgical and Experimental Pathology2520-84542019-09-012111210.1186/s42047-019-0047-6The strengths and weaknesses of gross and histopathological evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma: a brief reviewSebastião N. Martins-Filho0Venâncio Avancini Ferreira Alves1Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São PauloDepartamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São PauloAbstract Careful pathological analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) specimens is essential for definitive diagnosis and patient prognostication. Tumor size and focality, gross patterns, macro- and microvascular invasion, degree of histological differentiation and expression of Keratin 19 (K19) are relevant features for risk stratification in this cancer and have been validated by multiple independent cohorts. However, there are important limitations to pathological analyses in HCC. First, liver biopsies are not recommended for diagnosis according to current clinical guidelines. Second, there is limited morphological data from patients at intermediate, advanced and terminal disease stages. Finally, there is little consensus on the evaluation of key histopathological features, notably histological grading (degree of differentiation). Here, we review important morphological aspects of HCC, provide insights to molecular events in relation to phenotypic findings and explore the current limitations to pathological analyses in this cancer.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42047-019-0047-6 |
| spellingShingle | Sebastião N. Martins-Filho Venâncio Avancini Ferreira Alves The strengths and weaknesses of gross and histopathological evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma: a brief review Surgical and Experimental Pathology |
| title | The strengths and weaknesses of gross and histopathological evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma: a brief review |
| title_full | The strengths and weaknesses of gross and histopathological evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma: a brief review |
| title_fullStr | The strengths and weaknesses of gross and histopathological evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma: a brief review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The strengths and weaknesses of gross and histopathological evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma: a brief review |
| title_short | The strengths and weaknesses of gross and histopathological evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma: a brief review |
| title_sort | strengths and weaknesses of gross and histopathological evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma a brief review |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42047-019-0047-6 |
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