[Histopathology of the liver during hepatic transplantation in children]

This short review deals with the role of the pathologist in a liver transplant program and summarizes the main histopathologic features of liver graft injury. The role of the pathologist is pivotal, first, during diagnostic work-up of patients prior to liver transplantation and then after transplantation in the differential diagnosis of liver graft dysfunction. The histologic features of early graft dysfunction, acute and chronic rejection, viral and bacterial infection and toxic injury are briefly described. The frequency of simultaneous pathologic processes in the transplant patient is emphasized in regard to the need of information exchange between the physician and the pathologist.