Table 3.

Developmental process of HCCs

HCC in a liver with early stage of chronic liver disease	HCC in a liver with advanced stage of chronic liver disease
Well HCC > Mod/Poor HCC	Well HCC < Mod/Poor HCC
Indistinct nodular pattern	Distinct nodular pattern
HCC can grow without deforming pre-existing fibrous stroma	HCC grows with deforming thick fibrous stroma
Stromal invasion: Well HCC vs. pre-existing portal tracts	Stromal invasion: Mod. Poor HCC vs. thickened fibrous septa

Comparison of stages of chronic liver diseases of non-cancerous tissue

HCC: hepatocellular carcinoma, Well: well differentiated, Mod.: moderately differentiated, Poor: poorly differentiated