[The cytological diagnosis of liver cancer]

A study is presented of 96 patients with primary cancer of the liver. Hepatocellular cancer was diagnosed in 54 patients, cholangiocellular--in 36, low-differentiated--in 6 patients. Hepatocellular cancer was characterized by an increased size of the cells while they maintained likeness with intact liver cells, were characterized by significant anisocytosis, hyperchromia, reticular cytoplasm. Cholangiocellular forms of cancer are characterized by the presence of large nucleoli, cytoplasm vacuolization. Nondifferentiated cancer was distinguished by markedly pronounced polymorphism, presence of "nude" nuclei, disorders of the nucleus/cytoplasm ratio in favour of the nucleus, presence of syncytial relations between the cells.