Hyperplasia of small hepatic cells in the precancerous condition of cirrhotic livers.

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Abstract
Karyometrical analysis was performed to characterize histologically the precancerous condition of [human] cirrhotic livers. The following parameters of hepatocytic nuclei were estimated in 29 normal and 35 cirrhotic livers: Nvo, the number of nuclei in a unit volumne of hepatic tissue; .ovrhdot.D, the mean of nuclear diameters; s, the SD of nuclear diameters (the degree of anisokaryosis); and N/C, the nucleocytoplasmic volume ratio. In normal livers, Nvo is inversely correlated with age (r = 0.53, P < 0.01), .ovrhdot.D and s are positively correlated with age (r = 0.68, P < 0.01 and r = 0.75, P < 0.01, respectively), and N/C is almost constant, regardless of age. Each of the parameters is independent of age in cirrhotic livers. Nvo and N/C are larger and .hivin.D and s are smaller in cirrhotic livers with hepatocellular carcinoma than in those without carcinoma (P < 0.05). The parenchyma of cirrhotic livers with hepatocellular carcinoma, which occurs in strongly precancerous conditions, apparently can be characterized by hyperplasia of small hepatic cells rather than by liver cell dysplasia, which is defined by marked anisokaryosis and nuclear pleomorphism.