Liver cell dysplasia accompanying hepatocellular carcinoma in southern Africa. Differences between urban and rural populations.

Liver cell dysplasia (LCD) has been recognised for many years in association with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The presence of LCD relates to cirrhosis, particularly macronodular, as well as HBsAg positivity in many countries. These relationships have not previously been recognised in southern Africa. This study of LCD in 160 rural and urban black patients with proven HCC records a significant difference between the prevalence of dysplasia in rural HBsAg-positive and -negative cases: 75.6% in HBsAg+ individuals vs. 29.4% of those negative for HBsAg (P less than 0.01). Furthermore a significant relationship is reported between dysplasia and macronodular cirrhosis, LCD being observed in 62.9% of those with macronodular cirrhosis vs. 29.5% of non-cirrhotics (P less than 0.001). In addition there was evidence for a relationship between severity of dysplasia and domicile (rural greater than urban), age (being more extensive in younger patients), and ongoing viral replication (82.3% of patients showing the highest grade of dysplasia were found to be serum HBeAg+ and/or tissue HBcAg+ cf. 3.7% with absent or low-grade dysplasia). It is apparent that in southern Africa the presence of dysplasia in HBsAg+ individuals implies that HCC should be actively excluded in these patients and that they should thereafter be carefully monitored for the development of a tumour.