INFLUENCE OF HEPATECTOMY ON CELL INFILTRATION IN THE RESECTED LIVER PARENCHYMA COMPARED WITH THE BIOPSY SPECIMEN - A PRELIMINARY-STUDY

We undertook a preliminary investigation to determine whether or not p reoperative hepatitis activity can be evaluated by the finding of cell infiltration into the parenchyma of the resected specimen. In 28 pati ents who underwent hepatic resection, liver biopsies were obtained jus t after the laparotomy in order to make a histological comparison with the resected liver specimen. Histological changes were observed in 11 out of 28 patients. However, these were limited to minimal changes of neutrophil infiltration in the portal and I subserosal area with no d erangement of chronic cell infiltration. In addition, the preoperative liver function and operative findings did not differ between patients with and those without histological changes. The activity of hepatiti s was therefore seen not to be histologically influenced by the surgic al procedure. Thus, an accurate evaluation of chronic inflammatory cel l infiltration activity in the resected liver specimen is a reliable i ndicator in chronic liver disease patients.