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Semin Liver Dis 2004; 24(1): 89-97
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-823103
Copyright © 2004 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Liver Biopsy Sampling in Chronic Viral Hepatitis

Maria Guido1 , 2 , Massimo Rugge2
  • 1Pathologist, Università Degli Studi di Padova, Azienda Ospedale, Padova, Italy
  • 2Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche ed Oncologiche-Anatomia Patologica 2, Università Degli Studi di Padova, Azienda Ospedale, Padova, Italy
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Publication History

Publication Date:
13 April 2004 (online)

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In chronic viral hepatitis, liver biopsy is performed to grade and stage liver damage. Liver biopsy samples are usually taken with a needle using a percutaneous procedure. This method produces a core of tissue representing approximately 1/50,000th of the liver mass, which raises concern about how representative a needle biopsy can be. A critical review of the literature reveals methodological limits unacceptable in this era of evidence-based medicine. Integrating earlier experience with more recently produced data indicates that a biopsy sample 2 cm or more in length containing at least 11 complete portal tracts should be reliable for grading and staging chronic viral hepatitis.

KEYWORDS

Liver biopsy - chronic hepatitis - viral hepatitis - histopathology - sampling error

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Maria GuidoM.D. 

Istituto di Anatomia Patologica

Via Gabelli, 61, 35100 Padova, Italy

Email: mguido@unipd.it