Twelve cases of fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLC) were eval
uated for DNA ploidy by means of image analysis of Feulgen-stained tis
sue sections. All of the tumors showed a nondiploid DNA distribution (
six aneuploid and six tetraploid); no diploid pattern was found. The n
uclear area of the tumors (53.8 mu m(2) +/- 18.0; mean +/- standard de
viation) was significantly larger than that of the surrounding noncanc
erous livers (33.2 +/- 4.7; P < .0001). These findings suggest that DN
A content in fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is not directly related to
the clinical behavior and that other factors may be responsible for th
e better prognosis of this variant of HCC. HUM PATHOL 25:936-939. This
is a US government work. There are no restrictions on its use.