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Immunohistochemical evaluation of Cu, Zn- and Mn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in various viral liver diseases was performed by the peroxidase-conjugated antibody indirect method. Anti-human Cu, Zn-SOD (rabbit) and anti-human Mn-SOD (guinea-pig) derived and purified from SOD of human erythrocytes and placentas were used to determine SOD distribution in liver tissues. SOD in the liver tissues was detected in 68 inpatients of our unit. They consisted of 23 cases with chronic hepatitis caused by hepatitis B virus (13) and hepatitis C virus (10), 24 with liver cirrhosis caused by hepatitis B virus (5) and hepatitis C virus (19) (15: compensatory, 9: decompensatory) and 21 with hepatocellular carcinoma caused by hepatitis B virus (2) and hepatitis C virus (18) complicated of liver cirrhosis. In viral liver diseases, SODs in the liver tissues were distributed to hepatocytes mainly in the pattern of cytoplasmic diffusion. The incidence of immunohistochemical Cu, Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD were 47.8% and 56.5% in chronic hepatitis, 93.3% and 86.7% in compensated liver cirrhosis, 11.1% and 22.2% in decompensated liver cirrhosis, respectively. The aggression of viral liver disease was accompanied with the decrease of SOD concentration in the liver tissues. Hepatocellular carcinoma cells were negative for Mn-SOD in all cases, and weakly positive for Cu, Zn-SOD in 2 out of 21 cases. Comparatively strongly positive SOD findings were obtained from normal regions neighboring carcinomas. A close relationship between the depletion of SOD in liver tissues and carcinogenesis in viral liver diseases was observed.

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Emergency ultrasonography showed a protruding tumor in the markedly dilated common bile duct of a 33-year-old Japanese woman. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography also demonstrated the tumor clearly, almost as clearly as did percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. With a diagnosis of common bile duct carcinoma associated with congenital choledochal cyst, pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. In the resected specimen, as well as the protruding tumor, there was also a small slightly elevated lesion. Pathology examination showed adenocarcinoma limited to the fibromuscular layer in the protruding tumor, and adenocarcinoma limited to the mucosa in the elevated lesion. Prophylactic total excision of the choledochal cyst before the occurrence of malignant change is strongly recommended in patients with congenital choledochal cyst. However, in those who are reluctant to undergo the operation, periodic follow-up with ultrasonography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography would be ideal to achieve early detection of malignant change.

Endoscopic mucosal resection was carried out in a 70-year-old man with a gastric adenoma. Endoscopy 1 year later revealed a subpedunculated polyp about 1 cm in diameter at the resection site. Pathological examination of the resected specimen showed hyperplasia of the regenerative epithelium. The mechanism of occurrence of hyperplastic polyp at the resection site is discussed.