Liver cell dysplasia and hepatitis B surface and core antigens in cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma of autopsy cases.

Liver tissues of 180 autopsy cases of cirrhosis and hepatoma and 285 consecutive autopsy cases of other diseases were studied for liver cell dysplasia correlated with hepatitis B surface and core antigens (HBsAg and HBcAg) in liver cells and sera, and antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs) in sera. Liver cell dysplasia was characteristic in cirrhotic livers, particularly with hepatoma. No significant difference was found in age and sex between cirrhotic cases with and without dysplasia. Rate of positive HBsAg in liver cells and sera was significantly high in cirrhotic cases with dysplasia with or without hepatoma. Massive pattern distribution of orcein-positive liver cells was statistically significant in cirrhotic livers with or without hepatoma, but morphological characteristics of orcein-positive liver cells could not be correlated in significance with dysplasia and hepatoma. HBcAg showed neither correlation with liver cell dysplasia nor hepatoma. It appears to correlate with active cirrhosis, marked liver cell degeneration and necrosis, and membranous diffuse type HBsAg in liver cells.