Resistance to iron accumulation and presence of hepatitis B surface antigen in preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions in human hemochromatotic livers.

Two human cases of hepatocellular carcinoma combined with primary hemochromatosis and liver cirrhosis were studied with special reference to liver lesions displaying resistance to iron accumulation, and presence of hepatitis B surface antigen. Hepatocellular carcinomas, as well as small islands of hepatocytes within regenerative nodules, were free of the iron accumulation which otherwise occurred throughout the remainder of the hemochromatotic liver parenchyma. A positive reaction for hepatitis B surface antigen using the orcein staining method occurred randomly in iron-containing hepatocytes and in clusters of iron-containing hepatocytes cirrhotic nodules, but completely iron-free cells of foci and carcinomas were negative for orcein. Therefore, these iron-free foci are suggested to be precursors to the carcinoma.