Cirrhosis of the Liver in Northern India: A Clinicopathologic Study

Introduction Cirrhosis of the liver is known to be a common condition in India. 1 Its morphology and morphogenesis, however, are not entirely clear, due partly to lack of uniformity in the criteria used for distinguishing the various anatomical types. This is evident from a recent careful study in which it has been reported that, contrary to previous reports, the majority of cases of cirrhosis in Eastern India (Calcutta area) belong to the postnecrotic variety. 2 Autopsy studies alone, unaided by sequential clinical studies before death, are of limited value. At autopsy the process is seen in its end-stages, and a single anatomical type of cirrhosis may be produced by more than one etiological factor. Autopsy studies in India suffer from the further disadvantage that they are most often made on unclaimed bodies belonging to the destitute class and are therefore unrepresentative. In a progressive, continuing process like cirrhosis, a