Hepatocellular Carcinoma - Solid Pattern in Hepatitis B

Higher magnification of the previous image. In all cytologic patterns of HCC, the tumor cells resemble non-neoplastic hepatocytes with varying degrees of nuclear atypia. The tumor cells tend to retain their polygonal shape, round vesicular nuclei, and prominent nucleoli. Intranuclear vacuoles (cytoplasmic invaginations) and nuclear glycogenation are fairly common. The cytoplasm is slightly more basophilic compared to non-neoplastic hepatocytes. Occasional HCCs are infiltrated by T-lymphocytes (as seen here); these show an improved prognosis.