Budd-Chiari syndrome with multiple large regenerative nodules

No abstract available.

Real-time ultrasound contrast quantitative comparison study of regenerative nodules and small hepatocellular carcinoma in liver cirrhosis / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) in regenerative nodules(RNs)and small hepatocellular carcinoma(sHCC).Methods Thirty-four cases of liver cirrhosis with small nodule were examined by CEUS.Among these cases,18 cases with 20 lesions were diagnosed s HCC,16 cases with 18 lesions were diagnosed RN eventually,all the diagnoses were confirmed by pathology.Perfusion characteristic and quantitative difference of RNs and sHCC were summarized.Results ①The majority of sHCC showed hyper-enhancement during the arterial phase,iso-enhancement or hypo-enhancement during the portal phase,hypo-enhancement during the late phase.The enhanced phase and degree of RNs were diverse,most of RNs showed iso enhancement during the three phases.The enhanced phase of two groups had significant difference(P ＜0.05).②The enhancement type of RNs and sHCC had no significant difference (P ＞ 0.05).③ 11 of 20 sHCC lesions showed contrast-enhancement pattern of fast-in and slow-out,9 lesions were fast-in and fast-out;among 18 RNs,1 lesion enhanced during the portal phase and the late phase,it didn't enhanced during the arterial phase,3 lesions started to enhanced at the late arterial phase,14 lesions were iso-enhancement during the three phases.④Comparison of parameters of RNs and the adjacent liver parenchyma had no significant difference(P ＞0.05).Compared with the adjacent liver parenchyma or RNs,the arrival time and peak time were shorter,the peak intensity and the curve sharpness were higher in sHCC (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions CEUS is a useful method to distinguish RNs and sHCC in liver cirrhosis.

Newly Formed Hepatic Masses in Children with Biliary Atresia after Kasai Hepatic Portoenterostomy

BACKGROUND: This report describes the clinicopathologic findings of six hepatic masses that developed after Kasai hepatic portoenterostomy (HPE) in six patients with longstanding biliary atresia (BA). METHODS: Hepatic masses were found in six of 55 pediatric patients who underwent liver transplantation for BA after Kasai HPE from 1997 to 2009. Clinicopathologic analysis was performed and immunohistochemical staining was carried out for CD34, smooth muscle actin (SMA) and cytokeratin 7. RESULTS: Of the six hepatic masses, two were diagnosed as focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH)-like lesions, two were large regenerative nodules (LRN), one was a mesenchymal hamartoma (MH) and one was a cholangiocarcinoma. The immunohistochemical staining findings for SMA and CD34 were more prominent for the FNH-like nodules than for the cirrhotic background liver. Dysplastic biliary epithelium arising from intestinal metaplasia was found in the cholangiocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that FNH-like lesions, LRNs and MH are the results of vascular hemodynamic changes after Kasai HPE and that cholangiocarcinoma is due to recurrent cholangitis after BA. All the lesions in this series must be included in the differential diagnosis of a newly formed hepatic mass in patients after portoenterostomy.

A comparative observation on regenerative nodules, altered hepatocyte nodules and hepatocellular carcinomas / 肿瘤研究与临床

Objective To describe the development of nodules of altered hepatocytes (NAH) in chronic hepatitis B and to reveal progression of the nodules to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods HCC, NAH and ordinary regenerative nodules (ORN) were identified and compared histologically. Expression levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigens, mitoactivity and p53 accumulation in these lesions were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results Multiple foci of altered hepatocytes (FAH) and NAH were identified in the liver parenchyma surrounding HCC in all of the samples examined. Sequential architectural and cellular changes were observed during the progression of FAH to NAH and HCC. Expression levels of HBV surface and core antigens were found to be significantly decreased in ORN, NAH and HCC, with their positive rates being 70 % (35/50), 50 % (25/50), 10 % (5/50) and 60 % (30/50), 40 % (20/50), 6 % (3/50), respectively (P ＜0.05). Ki-67-1abelling indices were determined to be (0.58±0.49) %, (2.46±1.05) % and (40.36±26.27) %in these lesions, respectively (P ＜0.05). Nuclear p53 accumulation was found only in HCC. Its occurrence was associated to a high histological grade, with its frequencies being 13 % (1/8), 41% (11/27) and 73 % (11/15)in grade 1, 2 and 3 lesions, respectively. Conclusion NAH lesions, identified by their morphologic features and mitoactivity elevation, are detectable in resected liver samples with chronic hepatitis B and cirrhosis. They represent a common HCC precursor and can be used as a surrogate marker for the surveillance of high-risk individuals.

Ultrasound imaging features of hepatic regenerative nodules in Budd-Chiari syndrome after portacaval anastomosis / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To investigate the routine ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features of hepatic nodules in Budd-Chiari syndrome(BCS) after portacaval anastomosis.Methods Routine ultrasonography and CEUS were performed in 18 BCS patients with hepatic nodules after portacaval anastomosis.Results Appearance after portosystemic anastomosis,multiplicity,small size,presence of peripheral rim and hypervascularization were important ultrasound imaging features of hepatic regenerative nodules in patients with BCS.Nodules showedquick wash-in and slow wash-out pattern in CEUS.Sixteen cases showed center-to-periphery enhancement pattern in arterial phase and hyper-enhancement in portal phase and late phase.Two cases showed periphery-to-center enhancement pattern in arterial phase and periphery enhancement in portal phase and late phase.Conclusions Hepatic regenerative have different features on routine ultrasound and CEUS in patients with BCS after portacaval anastomosis,which are useful for differential diagnosis.

Massive hepatic necrosis with large regenerative nodules / 대한간학회지

No abstract available.

MR Features of Regenerative Nodules and Dysplastic Nodules in the Cirrhotic Liver / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

In order to study MR features of the regenerative nodule (RN) and dysplastic nodule (DN) of the cirrhotic liver, 26 cases of cirrhotic liver with RNs and DNs, of which 8 cases accompanied with hepatocellular carcinoma, were subjected to MRI. Eighteen of 26 cases underwent additional enhanced MRI with administration of Gd-DTPA on TlWI and 10 of the 18 cases did additional SPIO (Feridex) enhancement on T2WI. Clinical data showed normal level of α-fetoprotein in 18cases except 8 cases accompanied with HCC. The results showed that 12 cases had RNs with nodules measuring ＜1 cm. The MR appearance of those RNs showed isointensity on T1WI and hypointensity on T2WI. The intensity of those RNs was isointense to the surrounding hepatic parenchyma on enhanced MRI with administration of Gd-DTPA or SPIO. Among the 14 cases of DNs, 8cases had nodules measuring 1-3 cm in size and 6 had macroregenerative nodule measuring ＞3 cm.In 8 cases with DNs measuring 1-3 cm in size, 5 cases appeared hyperintense on T1WI and hypointense on T2WI as well as the enhancement as that of nodules with ＜1 cm in size; and the remaining 3 cases appeared hypointense on T1WI and hyperintense on T2WI, and were not isointense to the surrounding hepatic parenchyma on enhanced MRI but hyperintense on SPIO enhanced MRI.In 6 cases of macroregenerative nodule measuring ＞3 cm in size, 2 cases appeared hyperintense to the surrounding hepatic parenchyma on T1, T2WI and enhanced MRI; 4 cases showed hyperintense on T1WI, and hypointense on T2WI and enhanced MRI. Sometimes, normal vessels were seen to pass through the surface of macroregenerative nodules. It was suggested that RNs of cirrhosis had features on MRI that usually allow distinction from hepatocellular carcinoma but not always from dysplastic nodules (DNs). A helpful distinction between HCC and DNs is that the latter are almost never hyperintense on T2WI. Additionally, low grade DNs appear hypointense on SPIO enhanced MRI.

Relationship between Proliferative Activity and Expression of HBcAg and p53 Protein in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Surrounding Nontumorous Liver

In an attempt to discover the factors contributing to the increased proliferative activity in hepatocytes and subsequent development of HCC, the proliferative activity of hepatocytes was compared with the size of regenerative nodules and HBcAg expression status in the surrounding nontumorous liver of 45 surgically resected hepatocellular carcinomas, including 34 HBV related ones. In the tumor, the difference in proliferative activity and the histological grade was analyzed in terms of p53 gene alteration. The proliferative activity was assessed by immunohistochemical methods using Ki-67 monoclonal antibody. HBcAg expression in the surrounding nontumorous liver correlated with both the inflammatory and proliferative activity of hepatocytes (p0.05). p53 overexpression was not evident in surrounding nontumorous liver including cirrhosis. In conclusion, the above results are in line with the view that hepatic carcinogenesis is a mutistep, progressive process. In the initial stage, chronic cellular injury incurred by immumologic reaction against HBcAg seems to play a pivotal role in increased cellular regeneration. However, once transformation of hepatocytes occur the major contributor to tumor growth seems to be alteration in p53 tumor suppresor gene.

Clonality of Large Regenerative Nodule Accompanied by Hepatocellular Carcinoma

In order to clarify the preneoplastic nature of large regenerative nodules without dysplastic change, we analysed the clonality of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and large nodules, diameter > or =0.5 cm, of cirrhotic liver by X-linked human androgen receptor (HUMARA) gene assay, using the principle of random X chromosome methylation and inactivation in female. Ten cases of HCC and 5 cases of large nodules without dysplasia from 9 female patients were selected. All the tumors, large nodules and paired normal control cells were selectively microdissected from deparaffinized hematoxylin and eosin stained slides. Genomic DNA was isolated and digested with HhaI. Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) amplication of the HUMARA locus was performed using 32P-a-dCTP containing PCR mixtures. The PCR amplified products were separated by gel electrophoresis and analysed by autoradiography. Nine HCCs from 8 patients were monoclonal and 1 case was polyclonal and the remaining 1 case was not polymorphic at the HUMARA locus. The HCC case which showed polyclonality contained many inflammatory cells. All the large nodules were polyclonal by HUMARA assay. These results suggest that all or most of the cells composing the large regenerative nodules without dysplasia are polyclonal. This assay may be informative for the differentiation between regenerative and preneoplastic nodules in cirrhotic liver and the size of nodule may be not important in hepatocarcinogenesis.