MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF ADENOMATOID HYPERPLASIA OF THE LIVER BY IMAGE-ANALYSIS TECHNOLOGY

Seven nuclear morphometric parameters in adenomatoid hyperplasia of th e liver (AHL), compared with normal liver cells (NLC) and hepatocellul ar carcinoma (HCC), were analyzed quantitatively by measuring the area (AREA), perimeter (PERIM), maximum diameter (DMAX), minimum diameter (DMIN), the equivalent circle diameter (DCIRCLE), circularity shape fa ctor (FCIRCLE) and shape factor (FSHAPE) using image analysis technolo gy (IAT). HCC could be subclassified into two groups according to the variation degree of FCIRCLE. All of above seven parameters in AHL and HCC were statistically different from NLC; AREA, PERIM, DCIRCLE and FC IRCLE in AHL were different from HCC. The degree of nuclear atypism of AHL was intermediate between NLC and HCC. The results indicate that A HL is not part of normal hepatocytic population morphometrically, but is a group of abnormal liver cells with somewhat nuclear atypia. As AH L has almost the same Value of parameters related to both the nuclear geometry and shapes to those of HCC, especially group 1 of HCC, as wel l as its frequently malignant transformation, AHL should be considered as an important precancerous lesion of human HCC.