BACKGROUND: Histological assessment is important in evaluating liver disease. We determined the clinical diagnose and predominant histological patterns of children with liver disease and association of histological pattern with outcome.

METHODS: Consecutive patients

RESULT: 470 cases (1month-18years; 65% males; 85% <1year) were included. Most common clinical diagnose were neonatal hepatitis (49%) and biliary atresia (29%). 229 neonatal hepatitis with giant cell pattern had better outcome (96% alive after 1year vs. 136 biliary with obstructive/fibrotic pattern of whom 74% died, p=<0.05). In the other disorders namely alagille's syndrome, bile duct abnormalities, liver tumor and both chronic hepatitis and portal vein thrombosis, the predominant histologies were bile duct paucity ,fibrotic, neoplastic and near normal patterns, respectively. In these cases association with outcome could not be done due to limited patients.

CONCLUSION: Most common clinical diagnoses were neonatal hepatitis and biliary atresia. Predominant histological patterns were giant cell and obstructive type. Histological patterns of giant cell hepatitis seen in neonatal hepatitis resulted in better outcome.