Pathological types of liver cancer

The pathological morphology of liver cancer can be divided into massive type, nodular type, diffuse type and small cancer type:

1. The giant type is often a single cancer mass, but it can also be formed by multiple nodules gathering together into a large mass, sometimes with small scattered cancer nodules adjacent to it; the cancer mass is generally more than 10 cm in diameter, with a pseudocapsule formed.

2. The nodular type is more common, which may be single or multiple nodules of varying sizes scattered in the liver, with unclear boundaries with surrounding tissues. The formation of multiple cancer nodules may be the result of cancer cells spreading through the portal vein or multi-center occurrence of cancer tissue. This type is often accompanied by liver cirrhosis and is highly malignant.

3. The diffuse type is rare. The nodules are generally small, of similar size, grayish white in color, and scattered throughout the liver. It is accompanied by cirrhosis and is sometimes difficult to distinguish from cirrhosis nodules. The disease progresses rapidly and the prognosis is extremely poor.

4. Small cancer type Small liver cancer with a diameter less than 3 cm is divided into small cancer type. Pathological characteristics of small cancer type: the capsule is mostly intact; the incidence of cancer thrombus is low; the degree of liver cirrhosis is mild; the cancer cells are well differentiated; there are more lymphocytes infiltrating around the cancer; the immune status of the patient is good. The prognosis is good, and most of them are single nodules.

Histological pathology

1. Hepatocellular type originates from the hepatocyte epithelium and accounts for 85% of the common liver cancers in clinical practice. Cancer cells are mostly polygonal or round, arranged in nests or cords, with large nuclei and obvious nucleoli. There are abundant blood sinusoids between the nests or cords, and no interstitial components.

2. Cholangiocarcinoma originates from bile duct epithelial cells and is rare in clinical practice. The cancer cells are cubic or columnar, arranged in glands, with more fibrous tissue and fewer sinusoids.

3. Mixed type: The above two types exist at the same time, or in a transitional form, not completely like hepatocytes, nor completely like bile duct cells. This type is rare.