Primary liver tumors - pathological anatomical diagnosis

Primary liver tumors arise from hepatocytes, cholangiocytes and various soft tissue structures, such as endothelial cells of liver sinusoids. Some liver tumors occur only in non-cirrhotic livers, such as focal nodular hyperplasia and liver cell adenoma whereas the corresponding liver tissue of dysplastic nodules or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is mostly cirrhotic. The pathohistological diagnostics of liver biopsies becomes more important in order to classify liver tumors/lesions and to differentiate primary liver tumors from liver metastases. In cases of liver cell adenoma the aim is the classification of liver cell adenoma with or without malignant potential. However, for some liver tumors, such as dysplastic nodules and combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinomas, the diagnosis in liver biopsies is very limited because of impaired assessability. Furthermore, one of the most important differential diagnoses of liver tumors is liver metastases, especially in cases of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.