Posts by Phoenix Bell

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a primary biliary disorder characterized by progressive destruction of bile ducts. In this post we will present the most classic microscopic findings of PSC...

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic liver disorder caused by progressive bile duct destruction. In this post, we will present the characteristic histologic findings of PBC, as well as the...

The clinical and histologic presentation of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) can be quite variable. Here, we present the microscopic features of AIH and discuss clinicopathologic findings that can be used...

In patients with chronic liver disease, liver biopsies are taken to evaluate extent and progression of disease, which helps guide therapy. Here, we discuss the microscopic features of chronic...

Steatohepatitis is a common finding on liver biopsies. The main differential diagnosis is non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) versus alcoholic steatohepatitis. When the histologic and clinical...

When interpreting a liver biopsy, it is important to be familiar with the pathologist's armamentarium of special stains. In this post, we review the most common histochemical stains used in liver...

Why do patients get liver biopsies? The main goals of a liver biopsy are to (1) render a diagnosis in a patient with abnormal liver function tests (LFTs) or a liver lesion on imaging, (2) provide...

The outer surface of the liver is composed of a fibrous / connective tissue capsule (Figure 1). The outermost surface is covered by a thin layer of mesothelial cells that arises from the peritoneum...