Flow cytometric DNA analysis was used to assess cellular kinetics of needle liver biopsies from patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). An abnormal DNA content was shown in 44.5% of liver cirrhosis cases and in 78.6% of tumor sites. The number of proliferating cells (S + G2M%) was significantly increased in cirrhotic liver (P < 0.05). Dysplasia was found in 66% of cirrhotic specimens. All negative dysplasia specimens showed a diploid pattern while 69% of positive dysplastic specimens were aneuploid (P < 0.001). In conclusion, cell proliferation, aneuploidy and liver cell dysplasia are important indicators in liver cirrhosis for the development of HCC.