The optimal number of donor biopsy sites to evaluate liver histology for transplantation.

Macrovesicular steatosis (MaS), fibrosis, and inflammation have been associated with poor graft function after liver transplantation. We evaluated histological variation in livers to determine the optimal number of biopsies to estimate pathological characteristics in livers for transplantation. Specimens from autopsies performed during 3 months in 16- to 70-years-olds without known liver disease or drug and/or alcohol abuse were examined.