[HBS Ag-positive hepatocellular cancer (pathomorphologic study)]

Pathomophological and histochemical analysis of 7 autopsy cases of primary hepatocellular carcinoma was performed. Direct immunofluorescence with an anti-HBsAg serum and staining with orsein according to Shikata's method revealed the presence of HBsAg in hepatocytes of the cirrhotic tissue and in tumour cells. Cirrhotic nodes were found to have numerous HBsAg-positive cells, whereas in the tumour tissue the number of such cells was insignificant and they were found only in highly differentiated areas. In all cases, highly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma was combined with active large nodular cirrhosis.