12. Amyloidosis of the liver

Staining: HE

Overview of the slide

Organ: Liver

Description: We can identify the organ by looking for portal triads. In some parts of the slide we can see normal hepatocytes, however in some parts we can see an eosinophilic, homogenous, hyaline (glass-like) substance. Some hepatocytes have small cytoplasm, making them look atrophied.

Diagnosis: Amyloidosis of the liver

Theory: The homogenous substance is comprised of amyloids. The atrophied hepatocytes have atrophied because they’ve been compressed by the amyloid accumulation.

Portal triad

Comparison of the normal tissue and homogenous substance

Close-up of atrophied cells and the homogenous substance