Understanding your biopsy results

[Guest guest]

Jack,Here's some info for you - there's more on the way.SuZieUnderstanding Your Biopsy ResultsThe following terms are often used to describe the changes in liver tissue associated with HCV infection:

Portal Inflammation. The portal areas are tiny tracts of connective tissue within the liver that contain branches of the portal vein, the hepatic artery and bile ducts.

Piecemeal Necrosis. This term describes necrosis (cellular death) and inflammation around the portal areas.

Fibrosis. Fibrosis is the deposition of specialized fibers in the cell structure of the liver, forming scar tissue. The early stages of fibrosis are confined to the portal tracts.The

intermediate stages of fibrosis are characterized by expansion of fibrous tissue to the portal tracts and bridging between portal areas (known as bridging fibrosis).

Cirrhosis. A term used to describe significant deformation of the structure of the liver due to scarring.

Grade. Grading describes the degree of inflammation and necrosis that has occurred in the liver.

Stage. Staging describes the degree of fibrosis (scarring) that has occurred.

If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons? .