Characteristics of Lymph Node Metastases of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Comparing to Cholangiocellular Carcinoma-A Statistical Analysis of Annual of the Pathological Autopsy Cases in Japan from 1972 to 1981

Abstract

A statistical analysis was performed on lymph node metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) comparing to cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC), refering to annual of the pathological autopsy cases in Japan for 10 years (1972-1981). In 12459 cases of HCC and 2048 of CCC, the ratio of lymph node metastases were 33.3% and 67.6% (p<0.01), respectively. The ratio of hematogenous metastases and dissemination were 74.2% and 81.9% (p<0.01). As to HCC and liver cirrhosis (LC), lymph node metastases were 24.6% of HCC with LC and 43.9% of HCC without LC (p<0.01), and hematogenous metastases and dissemination were 59.4% in the former and 78.6% (p<0.01) in the latter. Distant lymph node metastases accompanying no regional metastases were 42% of HCC and 34% of CCC. HCC, compared with CCC, tended to expand for more cranialis direction. However in a stage when lymph node metastases were limited in the regional nodes, direction of metastases in both HCC and CCC were more caudal. © 1985, The Japan Society of Hepatology. All rights reserved.