Table of Contents
Definition / general | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) images | Sample pathology report | Additional references | Board review style question #1 | Board review style answer #1Cite this page: Gonzalez R. Vascular disorders-general. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/livervasculargeneral.html. Accessed March 29th, 2024.
Definition / general
- Vascular disorders affecting the liver can be systemic or localized and have intrinsic or extrinsic causes
- Intrinsic causes:
- Drug induced injury
- Portal vein thrombosis
- (In allografts) hepatic artery thrombosis
- Extrinsic disorders include heart failure, causing congestive hepatopathy
- Normal liver is resistant to ischemia due to dual blood inflow (hepatic artery and portal vein)
- Cirrhosis also causes vascular remodeling, though it is not generally considered a vascular disorder (J Hepatol 2014;61:912)
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Inflow abnormalities often cause ischemic necrosis
- Outflow abnormalities often cause sinusoidal dilation
- Most other histologic changes depend on the causative disease
Microscopic (histologic) images
Sample pathology report
- Liver, biopsy:
- Liver parenchyma with prominent zone 3 sinusoidal dilation (see comment)
- Comment: The findings are most consistent with outflow obstruction (e.g. congestive hepatopathy). Trichrome and iron stains are unremarkable.
Additional references
Board review style question #1
Which of the following is true about vascular disorders involving the liver?
- Hepatic artery thrombosis only affects native livers
- Inflow abnormalities often cause sinusoidal dilation
- Outflow abnormalities often cause portal vein thrombosis
- The liver’s dual blood flow makes it resistant to ischemia
Board review style answer #1
D. The liver’s dual blood flow makes it resistant to ischemia
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Reference: Vascular disorders-general
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Reference: Vascular disorders-general