Perface1

The liver is vulnerable to various injuries by different etiologies but has relatively limited pathological changes.As most of the pathological changes are nonspecific,pathologists are required to recognize a combination of pathological alterations to achieve a morphological pattern.Based on the morphological pattern,pathologists have to integrate with clinical information,laboratory results,and sometimes radiological findings to establish the final diagnosis.Small sample sizes,nonspecific pathological changes,and clinicopathological correlation make an accurate diagnosis of non-neoplastic liver diseases not straightforward.Diagnosis of non-neoplastic liver diseases is hence,often challenging,particularly to residents and non-hepatopathologists.

To overcome this diagnostic challenge in daily practice,an atlas with illustrative histological images and concise texts is an excellent tool welcomed by many pathologists.However,there is only a small number of atlases on non-neoplastic liver diseases.Atlases written by Chinese pathologists are even fewer.This atlas,authored by Prof.Yang and Prof.Xiao,fills the gap to facilitate the diagnostic process of non-neoplastic liver diseases by Chinese pathologists.Images in this atlas are all representative to demonstrate typical pathological features,whereas texts summarize all essential clinical and pathological information.This atlas is an invaluable bench reference for practicing pathologists and an indispensable companion to the major textbooks for residents studying hepatopathology.

As a hepatopathologist interpreting liver biopsies for almost 15 years,I still enjoy the intellectual diagnostic process of non-neoplastic liver diseases.I firmly believe that this atlas can help residents and non-hepatopathologists find liver biopsies less demanding and more enjoyable.

陈永鸿

香港中文大学病理解剖及细胞学系荣誉副教授

2019年11月