INTERPRETATION OF LIVER BIOPSIES

Liver biopsies help define the disease process and can assist the clin ician in forming a prognosis. The small size of Liver biopsy specimens and limited responses of the liver to a wide spectrum of injuries oft en do not allow for a specific etiologic diagnosis. Determination of t he distribution and morphology of the lesion often provides useful dia gnostic and prognostic information. Maximum value can be attained from Liver biopsies when the histologic findings are correlated with the r esults of other diagnostic tests and there is good communication betwe en the clinician and pathologist.