Difference between revisions of "Category:Liver - General Pathology"

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==[[Liver Failure]]==
 
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===Syndromes in liver failure===
 
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[[Icterus]]
 
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[[Photosensitisation]]
 
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[[Hepatic Encephalopathy]]
 
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[[Bleeding Tendencies]]
 
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[[Hypoalbuminaemia]]
 
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==[[Liver response to injury]]==
 
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===Necrosis===
 
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====Causes====
 
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*severe metabolic disturbances [as seen in degenerative pathology link?]
 
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*toxic substances [link?]
 
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*nutritional deficiencies
 
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*action of micro-organisms
 
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====Histological patterns====
 
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*[[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|Liver]] cell necrosis has been classified on an anatomic basis with reference to the distribution of the lesion
 
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=====Random foci (focal)=====
 
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*microscopic foci of necrosis not related to any particular part of the [[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|liver]] lobule
 
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*can be due to a variety of insults
 
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**systemic viral, bacterial,and parasitic infections
 
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**result of bacteria being absorbed from the gut
 
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*examples
 
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**Equine herpes virus infection
 
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***in aborted foetuses
 
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**Salmonellosis
 
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***in calves
 
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**Toxoplasmosis (miliary)
 
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***in dogs and cats
 
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=====Zonal necrosis=====
 
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*necrosis occurring mainly in a part of the lobule and further subdivided according to whether the lesions are situated centrally, peripherally, or in the mid-zone of the lobule
 
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*due to anoxia
 
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======Periacinar (centrilobular)======
 
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*most common
 
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*main reason is because the hepatocytes in this zone are furthest away from the incoming blood supply
 
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**therefore less oxygenated and relatively anoxic
 
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*reported to contain the greatest number of enzymes responsible for metabolising sunstances to more toxic metabolites capable of killing the hepatocytes
 
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*hypoxic states and toxic substances predominate in this type of necrosis
 
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*some viral conditions cause this necrosis
 
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**eg Infectious Canine Hepatitis
 
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*poisons
 
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**eg carbon tetrachloride
 
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======Midzonal======
 
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*rare
 
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*in pigs with alfatoxicosis
 
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*'Yellow Fever' in man
 
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======Periportal (centroacinar)======
 
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*rare
 
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*eg phosphorous poisoning
 
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=====Massive necrosis=====
 
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*necrosis of large areas of [[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|liver]] cells comprising many lobules (complete acinus or several acini) and sometimes involving almost the whole organ
 
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*some cases of ICH infection or carbon tetrachloride poisoning, the severity of the injury replacing the zonal pattern
 
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======Subacute cytolytic necrosis======
 
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*a condition in the dog
 
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*aetiology is entirely unknown
 
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*Clinical
 
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**acute abdominal pain
 
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**collapse
 
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**invariably jaundice
 
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*Gross
 
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**[[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|Liver]] is normal or reduced in size
 
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*Microscopically
 
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**severe necrosis
 
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======''Hepatosis dietica''======
 
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*similar condition to subacute cytolytic necrosis
 
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*occurs in rapidly growing pigs
 
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*related to diet
 
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**fed on large quantities of grain concentrates
 
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**poor quality or low quantity protein supplements
 
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*Cause
 
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**nutritional deficiencies of selenium and Vitamin E, and probably amino acids
 
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**triggering mechanism is environmental stress
 
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===Regeneration===
 
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*occurs quite readily when damaged
 
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*approximately 70% of the [[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|liver]] can be removed surgically without danger to life
 
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**can reconstitute itself to its former mass in a few weeks
 
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**may not be its original shape
 
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NB: larger areas of necrosis or continual bouts of necrosis are accompanied by fibrosis and biliary hyperplasia
 
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[link to the last two terms]
 
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===Fibrosis - Repair===
 
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*any hepatic injury of consequence is going to cause a degree of fibrosis when the lesion has resolved
 
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*the fibrosis comes from the proliferation of the supportive connective tissue in the [[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|liver]]
 
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*fibrosis isolates the [[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|liver]] cells by effectively changing the sinusoids into capillaries
 
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*when a certain amount of fibrosis occurs, it can be self-perpetuating
 
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**the end result is a small scarred [[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|liver]] with functional failure
 
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====Histological patterns====
 
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=====Periacinar fibrosis=====
 
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*the fibrosis surrounds the hepatic venule (centrilobular vein)
 
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*can be seen when there is chronic passive congestion with atrophy of the surrounding periacinar hepatocytes and condensation of the remaining connective tissue
 
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=====Biliary fibrosis=====
 
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*accompanying inflammation centered on the portal triads
 
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=====Post necrotic scarring=====
 
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*following massive necrosis where the necrotic cells are removed and the defect is reapired by fibrosis
 
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*seen as bands of fibrous tissue
 
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=====Diffuse fibrosis=====
 
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*resulting from repeated damage to one or more zones
 
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*the fibrosis generated proliferates throughout to involve all the tissue
 
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===Biliary hyperplasia===
 
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*bile duct proliferation
 
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*usually in association with portal fibrosis
 
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*reason is unknown
 
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[image - the picture shows fibroplasias invading between hepatocytes - some of the cells are likely to be distorted bile duct profiles]
 
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==Cirrhosis==
 
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*a term often used for fibrotic lesions, especially widespread fibrosis
 
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*it is an end stage liver with poor functional ability
 
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*much debate on the definition and classification of cirrhosis
 
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*in any case the following conditions prevail:
 
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1.  the whole [[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|liver]] is involved
 
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2.  cellular necrosis occurs at some stage in the disease
 
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3.  there is nodular regeneration of liver cells
 
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4.  fibrosis occurs and is diffuse
 
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5.  there is disorganisation of the lobular architecture, with fibrous tracts joining portal triads and central veins
 
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6.  clinically it is a chronic disease
 
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7.  [[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|liver]] cell failure always supervenes and portal hypertension is often a feature
 
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===Aetiology===
 
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*precise aetiology is unknown
 
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*as in man, may be due to viral hepatitis in Rubarth's disease (ICH)
 
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===Gross===
 
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*smaller than normal
 
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*firm to cut
 
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**firmness is due to the presence of fibrous tissue
 
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*pale, sometimes yellow in colour
 
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*regenerating nodule
 
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**can be small and even in size with the [[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|liver]] having a finely granular appearance
 
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**or much larger, uneven in size, and the [[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|liver]] surface is deeply fissured and irregular
 
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===Microscopically===
 
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*exhibits all 3 responses to injury
 
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**nodular regeneration of the parenchyma
 
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***haphazard regeneration of liver cells forming islands of new cells surrounded by condensed portal areas
 
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**fibrosis
 
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***early cases show areas of fibrosis connecting two or more portal triads
 
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***later cases have prominent laying down of cartilage
 
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**biliary hyperplasia
 
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===Effects of cirrhosis===
 
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due to
 
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*[[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|liver]] cell failure
 
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*development of portal hypertension
 
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**displacement and compression of efferent veins
 
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***fibrous connective tissue bands enclose veins and constrict them by contraction
 
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***regenerating nodules of [[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|liver]] cells contribute as well
 
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**abnormal communications open up between arterial and venous branches
 
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**this transmits high arterial pressure directly to the low pressure venous system
 
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====Sequelae====
 
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the rise in the venous pressure leads to the development of an accessory portal circulation and contributes to the development of ascites
 
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*prominent collateral pathways form in an attempt to circumvent the portal obstruction
 
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1.  via the intercostal veins to the azygous
 
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2.  via the gastric veins through the oesophageal veins also to the azygous
 
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3.  various venous plexuses, draining back into the renal vein
 
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4.  several prominent subcutaneous veins are also seen, running radially from the umbilicus over the abdomen
 
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NB: oesophageal and gastric collaterals in the dog run '''subserosal''', not '''submucosal''' like man, therefore they are not as subject to traumatic rupture
 
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*ascites
 
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**common finding
 
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**other factors are involved: lowered plasma albumin, causing lowered colloid osmotic pressure
 
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[[Molecular pathogenesis of cholestasis]]
 
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[[Hepatic Stellate Cells]]
 
 
[[Category:Liver - Pathology]]
 
[[Category:Liver - Pathology]]
 +
[[Category:General Pathology]]

Latest revision as of 21:44, 25 July 2011

Liver - General Pathology

  • The lobed liver is the largest gland in the body
  • A healthy liver is dark reddish-brown in colour with a smooth rubbery texture
  • Liver lesions are common because:
    • it is an area of high metabolic activity
    • receives toxic agents from the gut via the portal blood system
    • has an extensive vascular supply (prime site for metastatic disease)
  • Although liver lesions are common, they seldom produce liver failure
  • Diagnostic value because often indicates the presence and causes of disease in other organs and systems of the body



Liver - General Pathology Learning Resources
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Flashcards
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Liver Pathology Flashcards