The last decade has brought significant advances in the understanding of the molecular basis of liver disease, many of which have direct morphologic, diagnostic, and clinical implications. Furthermore, the use of liver transplantation for the treatment of end-stage liver disease has become widespread, and integral to the management of these liver transplant recipients is the evaluation of their allograft biopsies. Accordingly, pathologists currently face a new set of diagnostic and clinical questions in their interpretation of liver biopsy specimens.

Using a case-based approach, this course is designed to provide practicing pathologists and pathologists-in-training with a practical update of these advances in liver pathology and their direct application to liver biopsy interpretation in routine clinical practice.

Eight cases serve as the basis for this discussion. The histologic features, pertinent clinical details, and a logical approach to the differential diagnosis of each disease also are discussed. The information presented in this course provides the participants with the practical diagnostic applications to liver biopsy interpretation of these advances in the understanding and treatment of liver disease.

Topics covered include: 1) Non-transplant liver pathology: Chronic hepatitis including grading and staging schemes, steatohepatitis and the spectrum of fatty liver disease, autoimmune overlap syndromes, bile duct injury, hereditary hemochromatosis, and herbal remedy induced hepatotoxicity; 2) Liver transplant pathology: Acute cellular rejection, and recurrent disease (especially recurrent hepatitis C).

Participants receive a comprehensive course syllabus, which includes relevant references, and a CD of the photomicrographs for each case.