[Cytoplasmic crystals (cholesterol?) in acute and chronic liver lesions. Electron microscopic study]

Authors in six patients with liver injury (three of them acute--intoxication with carbon tetrachloride, halothane-hepatitis and acute alcoholic liver disease--and three cases of chronic liver lesions--two chronic alcoholic liver disease and one chronic agressive hepatitis) in the biopsy specimens-in the small number of hepatocytes--electronmicroscopically observed needle-like or quadrate "crystals" of the size of 0.4--3.5 X 0.07--0.2 microns, which seemed to be optically leer. The electronoptical density of the contours of the inclusions is different. To establish the composition of these inclusions electronihistochemical examinations are needed. Morphologically they seem to be similar to cholesterol crystals.