Final answer:
Mallory bodies identified in liver biopsy results are associated with cirrhosis and can also indicate various liver diseases, infections, and cancer. Proper clinical evaluation is essential to diagnose the underlying cause, involving tests beyond the liver biopsy, including blood tests for specific liver enzymes and imaging.
Step-by-step explanation:
Considerations for Liver Biopsy Results Showing Mallory Bodies
When liver biopsy results indicate the presence of Mallory bodies, there are specific conditions that should be considered. These conditions include cirrhosis of the liver, which is a chronic disease that leads to scarring and impaired liver function. Additionally, liver diseases associated with abnormal immune system activity such as multiple myeloma, agammaglobulinemia, nephrosis, and agranulocytosis should be examined.
Other considerations include infectious diseases such as bacterial, viral, and protozoal infections that can contribute to liver damage. It is important to also evaluate liver enzyme levels, including lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which is elevated in cases of acute liver damage, hemolysis and may serve as a marker of severity of the condition. The enzyme alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels should be checked as they can rise with large bile duct obstruction, intrahepatic cholestasis, or infiltrative diseases of the liver. Cancer of the liver, which can be primary like hepatocellular carcinoma or secondary due to metastasis, must also be considered. In pediatric cases, diseases such as biliary atresia, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, alagille syndrome, and progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis are noteworthy.
Ultimately, diagnosing the underlying cause requires a comprehensive clinical evaluation, which includes personal and family medical history, a complete physical examination, and the integration of findings from liver biopsy and other diagnostic tests such as imaging and blood tests.