Experience of pediatric liver disease at a university hospital in Western Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the diverse spectrum presented by pediatric liver diseases and prevalence of histopathological patterns and assess the role of histopathological findings in predicting prognosis.

METHODS

We carried out a retrospective cohort study of 158 pediatric patients who underwent liver biopsy or resection for liver disease at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (2014-2023). Demographic data, clinical data, and histopathological findings were analyzed using counts and percentages.

RESULTS

The majority of the patients were infants (n=83; 52.5%), with male predominance (n=97; 61.4%). Biopsies were the most common specimen type (n=137; 86.7%). Cholestatic/bile duct disorders were the most prevalent pathological pattern (n=92; 58.2%), with extrahepatic biliary atresia being the most common subtype (n=32; 34.8%). Inflammatory/infectious disorders accounted for 13.3% (n=21) of cases, with chronic active hepatitis-not otherwise specified (n=10; 47.6%) being the most frequent. Metabolic disorders represented 12.0% of cases, with glycogen storage disorders and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease both at 31.6% (n=6). Neoplastic disorders were found in 7.6% (n=12) of cases, evenly distributed between benign and malignant tumors.

CONCLUSION

This study provides a comprehensive overview of histopathological patterns in pediatric liver diseases, highlighting the predominance of cholestatic disorders and the significance of early diagnosis.