A CLOSE ASSOCIATION OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA WITH CIRRHOTIC CHANGES AMONG 275, 857 PATHOLOGICAL AUTOPSY CASES IN JAPAN DURING 16YEARS FROM 1958 TO 1973

Abstract

Based on the registered autopsy cases since 1958, the association of hepatocellular carcinoma with cirrhotic changes was studied on the 275, 857 autopsy cases carried out in Japan during 16 years from 1958 to 1973.1.The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma among autopsies has been fairly high compared with Western countries, amounting 2.5 percent (3.5 percent in male and 1.2 percent in female).2.The incidence of cirrhotic changes among these autopsies was 6.3 percent in male and 4.3 percent in female. Presumably, the majority of cirrhosis in Japan is of multilobular thin septal pattern, which has been popularly called as B type cirrhosis of Nagayo-Miyake's classification or posthepatitic type of Gall's classification.3.The association of hepatocellular carcinoma with cirrhotic changes is found as 70.0 percent in male and 53.3 percent in female (66.8 percent in total). On the other hand, cirrhotic changes, particularly those above mentioned, are closely associated with hepatocellular carcinoma, and it was found that 23.3 percent of cirrhotic changes (27.2 percent in male and 12.9 percent in female) were associated with hepatocellular carcinoma.4.Cholangiocellular carcinoma is also asociated with cirrhosis to the less extent than hepatocellular carcinoma (20.7 percent in male and 10.7 percent in female), and cirrhotic changes are not associated with cholangiocellular carcinoma.5.Age incidences of hepatocellular carcinoma, B type cirrhosis and cirrhosis NOS are presented. The peaks are at 55 years old, 60 and 60 respectively.