Pathological Classification of Liver Cancer, November 6, 1996

Pathological Classification of Liver Cancer, November 6, 1996

Divided into three types: hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and mixed-type carcinoma.

1. Hepatocellular carcinoma is further classified into massive type (single mass, fused masses, segmented masses), nodular type, and diffuse type. Massive-type tumors are usually over 10 cm in size; nodular-type tumors range from 5 to 10 cm; diffuse-type tumors appear as small nodules, indistinguishable from cirrhosis.

2. Cholangiocarcinoma accounts for 5%–30% of primary liver cancers. This type of liver cancer is also divided into massive, nodular, and diffuse types. It is hard in texture and does not accompany cirrhosis, but exhibits obvious bile stasis.

3. Mixed-type carcinoma combines both characteristics.