[Developmental anomalies of the liver and carcinoma of the liver in infants and children (author's transl)].

Several forms of intrahepatic developmental anomalies were found on histological examination in 40 children, among them several siblings and polyovular twins. These anomalies affect in principle all structural elements of the liver. In several cases--some of them complicated by cholangitis-there was cholangiofibrosis and cholangiodysplastic pseudo-cirrhosis. In addition, in six children there developed hepatocellular carcinoma between the ages of six months and twelve years. In the course of the development of hepatic carcinoma obligatory nodular for occur. They are made up of light, glycogen-loaded epithelial cells, which later are transformed into small atypical, basophilic cells. These dark cells have a high mitosis rate, have already escaped from the physiological regulation of proliferation. Presumably the various embryonic disorders of liver structure and carcinoma of the liver are based on the action of the same causative factor, which may be of chemical-toxic origin and transferred across the placenta.