Inflammatory Liver Diseases

Autoimmune liver disorders are inflammatory liver diseases characterized by: inflammatory cell infiltrate in the portal tracts, presence of auto antibodies and increased levels of transaminases, Ig G. Entities include primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), overlap syndrome, and sarcoidosis. Patients with PSC have a higher risk of developing cholangiocarcinoma. AIH is characterized by the presence of piecemeal necrosis with a predominant lymphoplasmacytic cell infiltrate and fibrosis which my lead to cirrhosis. PBC is associated with elevated Ig G antimitochondrial antibodies. Overlap syndrome is characterized by clinical and laboratory findings of a combination of autoimmune diseases involving the liver. Sarcoidosis is one of the most common causes of hepatic non‐caseating granulomas. Clinical radiation injury of the liver has been reported to occur in 6‐66% of patients who receive radiation, where the field includes the right upper quadrant of the abdomen.