[Diagnostic difficulties in hepatic amyloidosis--clinical analysis and autopsy data of 3 cases]

Three patients with amyloidosis in whom hepatomegaly was the main sign ara presented. In all cases jaundice coexisted which is regarded as a rare sign in amyloidosis. Attention is called to the diagnostic difficulties of amyloidosis especially without a preceding clinically overt disease process. The presence of a particularly high activity of alkaline phosphatase in the serum, and focal absence of 99Tc uptake by the hepatic macrophage system in liver scintigram suggested liver tumour. However, demonstration of monoclonal protein in blood, urine or ascitic fluid, or raised level of alpha 2 globulin, should call attention to the possibility of liver amyloidosis. The authors stress the usefulness of the method of preincubation of tissue biopsy specimens in potassium hypermanganate during routine staining with Congo red for differentiation of amyloid AA from amyloid AL.