Morphometric measurements of adenomatous hyperplasia of the liver by image analyzer / 中华消化杂志

ABSTRACT

Seven cellular parameters in adenomatous hyperplasia of the liver (AHL), compared with normal liver cells (NLC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), were analyzed quantitatively by measuring the seven parameters of the cell nuclei, the area (AREA), perimeter (PERIM), maximum diameter (DMAX), minimum diameter (DMIN), the equivalent circle diameter (DCIRCLE), circularity shape factor (FCIRCLE) and shape factor (FSHAPE) using computerized image analyzer. The main results were (1) All the above seven nuclear parameters in AHL were significantly different from those in NLC, three parameters (DMAX, DMIN and FSHAPE) in AHL were not obviously different from those in HCC, indicating that AHL and NLC were not of the same cellular population, and AHL had a tendency of approaching HCC in the nuclear features; (2) Not alike NLC and HCC, the scattered distribution between nuclear FCIRCLE and DCIRCLE in AHL presented a highly dispersed distribution, overlapping the areas of NLC and the greater part of HCC, suggesting that AHL being an abnormal cellular population composed of cells in different proliferative status between NLC and HCC; (3) All of five resected AHL in the present study showed early malignant transformation. We conclude that AHL possesses the general features of precancerous lesion, and should be considered as the important precancerous lesion of HCC.