Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research (1998) 31: 911-919 Histological diagnosis of neonatal cholestasis 911 ISSN 0100-879X Histopathological diagnosis of intra- and extrahepatic neonatal cholestasis J.L. Santos¹, Departamentos de 1Pediatria, 2Cirurgia and 3Patologia, H. Almeida², Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil C.T.S. Cerski3 and T.R. Silveira¹ Abstract Correspondence The histopathology of the liver is fundamental for the differential Key words J.L. Santos diagnosis between intra- and extrahepatic causes of neonatal cholestasis. • Liver biopsy Rua Fernandes Vieira, 501, apto. 02 However, histopathological findings may overlap and there is dis- • Neonatal cholestasis 90035-091 Porto Alegre, RS agreement among authors concerning those which could discriminate • Biliary atresia Brasil between intra- and extrahepatic cholestasis. Forty-six liver biopsies Fax: 55 (051) 312-2090 E-mail:
[email protected]. (35 wedge biopsies and 11 percutaneous biopsies) and one specimen from a postmortem examination, all from patients hospitalized for Part of a Master’s thesis neonatal cholestasis in the Pediatrics Service of Hospital de Clínicas presented by J.L. Santos to the de Porto Alegre, were prospectively studied using a specially designed Departamento de Gastroenterologia, histopathological protocol. At least 4 of 5 different stains were used, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS. and 46 hepatic histopathological variables related to the differential diagnosis of neonatal cholestasis were studied. The findings were scored for severity on a scale from 0 to 4. Sections which showed less Received June 4, 1997 than 3 portal spaces were excluded from the study. Sections were Accepted March 26, 1998 examined by a pathologist who was unaware of the final diagnosis of each case.