[Liver cirrhosis, its definition and classification--from a morbid anatomical point of view]

Cirrhosis of the liver is a principally a morphological entity, and it has been assumed to be an end-stage condition of all chronic active liver diseases. Morphologically, liver cirrhosis can be defined briefly as "a pathological condition characterized by diffuse pseudonodule formation throughout the entire liver". Fundamental pathogenetic changes in the cirrhotic process are hepatic necrosis, increase of connective tissue and regeneration of hepatocytes. For the sake of convenience, liver cirrhosis is classified into two groups; common and specific types. The former included postnecrotic, posthepatitic, alcoholic and mixed types of cirrhosis, and congestive, biliary, parasitic cirrhosis and Wilson disease were grouped into the latter. It should be mentioned that morphological diagnostic criteria is much more rigid for the common types than those of the specific type. Special stress has been laid on the importance of structural changes not only in the parenchymal disorganizations, but also in the stromal vascular changes in the cirrhotic process.