This is a classification of tumours and tumour-like lesions of the
liver. It is based primarily on the microscopic characteristics of the
tumours, and is therefore concerned with morphologically identi fiable
cell types and histological patterns. The haematoxylin- and
eosin-stained section remains the mainstay of morphological diag nosis,
but special histochemical stains are often helpful and have been
referred to in the explanatory notes. Readers interested in specific
special stains mentioned in the text should consult Labora tory Methods
in Histotechnology of the Armed Forces Institute of .Pathology,
Washington, D. c., USA. 1 The results of immunohisto chemical methods
for identifying various tumour "markers" have also been noted whenever
indicated. The present classification incorporates all the previously
classi fied tumours, but also includes several new lesions, viz. biliary
papil lomatosis, the fibrolamellar variant of hepatocellular carcinoma
and epithelioid haemangioendothelioma. Several subtypes of hepato
blastoma are mentioned. A serous type of bile duct cystadenoma is
described. The section on tumour-like lesions has been expanded to
include focal fatty change and inflammatory pseudotumour. The section on
adenomatous hyperplasia, including macroregenerative nodules, has been
amplified. The number of photomicrographs has been increased from the
original 56 to 150. Unlike the first edition, the photomicrographs in
the second edition are mostly black and white. All are new and were
taken of representative cases on file at the Armed Forces Institute of
Pathology."