Liver-biopsy is probably the single most useful test in the assesment of liver diseases. It entails a small risk if the contraindication and precautions commonly aggreed upon are observed. The present study covers analysis of consecutive 436 liver biopsies .during the period from October 1968 to June 1977.
The following results were obtained;
1. Of 436 consecutive liver biopsies adequate specimens were obtained in 409 cases (94.1%), inade guate specimens in 25 cases (1.9%) and failure in 2, cases (4.0% ).
2. The hisoopathological diagnoses in 409 patients were nomal in 38 cases (9.3%1), Hepatitis in 111 cases (27.1 %), liver cirrhosis in 64 cases (15.6%), tumor in 129 cases (31.5%), liver abscess in 16 cases (3.9%), fatty metamorphosis´ in 14 cases (3. 600), and miscellaneous in 37 cases (9. 0%).
3. Of 411 biopsies of the liver the clinical diagnoses were identical to the histopathologic diagnoses in 256 cases(62.3%), and in 375 cases (86.0%) of the biopsies were of value in diagnosis.
4. Severe complication included one case of bile peritonitis and one case of ;death due to unknown shock. Fever, transient hypotension and minor abdominal pain were occasonally noted as complications of mild degree.
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