[Liver biopsy : its indications in pathology (author's transl)]

One might expect several data from the study of liver biopsies : a diagnosis, an evaluation of the prognosis and the follow-up of therapy in patients with liver disease. The authors precise the most important lesions encountered in liver biopsy : diseases in which hepatic and or biliary manifestations are predominant (alcoholic liver disease, viral hepatitis, drugs and chemicals induced lesions, cirrhosis, biliary disease), liver alterations due to metabolic, cardio-vascular, haematological or systemic disorders. The prognosis and the evolution of the disease may be evaluation by the pathologist. The liver biopsy interpretation provides the basis on which the management of the patient with liver disease is founded. An important part of the study is related to the conditions necessary to obtain a final diagnosis. Clinical and biological data (and good samples) must be provided by the physician who must have a critical understanding of the pathological report. On the other hand, the pathologist with a good knowledge of histological technics has to analyse the lesions taking into account these informations. The best conditions are obtained in the closest possible collaboration between the pathologists and the clinicians providing the samples. The limits of the liver biopsy interpretation are also emphasized. The paper is followed by a glossary and 12 references.