Liver Transplantation: from a Histopathologist’s Perspective

Liver transplantation is a standard clinical treatment for both adult and pediatric patients with acute liver failure, end-stage liver diseases and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. The histopathologist can facilitate many of the clinical decisions concerning the indications for liver transplantation, assessment of donor suitability and management of liver allograft dysfunction syndromes. However, the histopathologist also faces many challenges, especially with regards to the histologic interpretation of the myriad causes of liver allograft dysfunction. A close working relationship with the rest of the liver transplant team including clinicians, surgeons and radiologists is essential to arrive at the most appropriate diagnosis and achieve the best patient outcomes.