Evaluation of histopathological spectrum of hepatic lesions in liver biopsies in a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Liver is vulnerable to a wide variety of metabolic, toxic, circulatory insults and is affected by a wide spectrum of various primary and secondary diseases. Liver biopsy contributes greatly to the understanding of liver diseases & is considered gold standard for evaluating liver disorders, providing information regarding diagnosis, disease progression and response to therapy. Being an invasive procedure with certain unavoidable risks, with proper procedural precautions and careful selection of patients, complications and risks can be greatly minimized. To study histopathological features of liver biopsies in patients with liver disease. To document the pattern of various hepatic lesions. To document various types of lesions predominant in different age groups. A prospective study was conducted in Department of Pathology of tertiary care hospital of Ahmedabad over a period of two years which included 74 liver biopsies. Clinical, demographic and pathologic data was collected and analysed for each case. Out of total 74 liver biopsy specimen, 47.29% cases were males, 52.70% were females. Malignant lesions were most common finding (52/74), out of which 37(50%) were metastatic adenocarcinoma, 10 (13.51%) were hepatocellular carcinoma and 5 (6.75%) were cholangiocarcinoma. Non neoplastic lesions included 10 cases which were of hepatitis, cirrhosis, hemangioma, biliary atresia and hydatid cyst formation. In 12 cases (16.21%), there were no significant findings. Thehistopathological study of liver biopsy forms the cornerstone in the diagnosis and management of various hepatic diseases. Microscopic examination of liver biopsy yields range of pathological findings and helps in specific management.