Ultrastructural aspects of the human primary liver cancer.

Abstract

First a brief delineation of the general ultrastructural characteristics of the human primary hepatocellular carcinomas (PHCs) is given. This is followed by a detailed survey of the electron microscopic findings concerning the cytoplasmic inclusions, cell junction structures and hepatitis B virus components seen in the PHC cells. Then the ultrastructural features of certain newly recognized subtypes (fibrolamellar, clear-cell types and primary endocrine liver tumor) of PHCs are described. Finally the importance of electron microscopy in the differential diagnostics of the liver tumors and its contribution to our knowledge concerning the morphology and etiopathogenesis of the PHCs are emphasized.