Indian childhood cirrhosis of the liver: a morphologic evaluation

Abstract

Indian childhood cirrhosis of the liver is a major cause of morbidity and mortality of children living in the Indian sub continent. This paper deals with the morphologic changes in various stages of the disease process. Ballooning and feathery degeneration of hepatocytes, complete absence of fatty change, frequent occurrence of intracytoplasmic hyaline bodies, dissection of pseudolobules by fibrous septa and fibrosis around single cells were notable features. A few cases also showed giant cell transformation and a pseudo adenomatous arrangement of hepatocytes. The interpretation of the morphologic changes is discussed and the probability of a toxic etiology suggested.