Liver histology in a 'normal' population--examinations of 503 consecutive fatal traffic casualties

The liver histology of 503 consecutive victims of fatal (within 24 hours) traffic accidents submitted to medico-legal autopsy are used as a standard of reference. In 370 persons (74%) no pathological changes in the liver biopsies were observed. Fatty liver was found in 120 persons (24%), non-specific portal inflammation in 7 persons, alcoholic hepatitis in 6, and portal fibrosis in 5. No cases of cirrhosis, chronic aggressive hepatitis, changes compatible with chronic persistent hepatitis, viral hepatitis, or other internationally accepted morphological diagnoses were found. A significant positive correlation between the frequency of steatosis and age groups was demonstrable. Fatty liver was found in 1% of persons below 20 years, in 18% between 20--40 years, and in 39% of persons more than 60 years in this normal material. The persons with fatty liver had a higher body weight, but the overweight was not correlated to age. It is concluded that fatty infiltration in the liver is a normal observation in aged persons.