A clinicopathological review of 100 cases of primary malignant tumours of the liver

• Published in: Journal of clinical pathology Vol. 27; no. 8; pp. 669 - 682
• Main Author: MacSween, R. N. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists 01.08.1974; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adenoma, Bile Duct - complications; Adenoma, Bile Duct - epidemiology; Adenoma, Bile Duct - pathology; Alcoholism - complications; Autopsy; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - complications; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - epidemiology; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology; Female; Hemochromatosis - complications; Humans; Liver - pathology; Liver Cirrhosis - complications; Liver Neoplasms - complications; Liver Neoplasms - epidemiology; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Male; Retrospective Studies; Sex Factors
• ISSN: 0021-9746; 1472-4146
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.27.8.669

One hundred cases of primary malignant tumour of the liver coming to necropsy in the period 1900-1969 have been reviewed. The overall tumour incidence was 0·46% of all necropsies. The overall tumour incidence in hepatic cirrhosis was 12·3%, but the corresponding male and female incidences were 17·5 and 4·4% respectively. There was no significantly increased tumour incidence in haemochromatosis. An increasing incidence of primary malignant tumours of the liver has been noted since 1940 and appears to be due to a corresponding increase in incidence of hepatic cirrhosis. Hepatocellular carcinomas outnumbered cholangiocarcinomas by 8 to 1, were more common in males than females (6 to 1), and in 77% of cases occurred in cirrhotic livers. Tumours supervened as a complication of macronodular or predominantly macronodular cirrhotic patterns.