Changing views on chronic hepatitis.

The histological classification of chronic hepatitis is reviewed. The relative importance of piecemeal necrosis and of lobular necrosis in the progression to cirrhosis is assessed. Recent advances in virological and serological aspects of acute hepatitis are outlined and the importance of concomitant infection with more than one virus is discussed. The pathologist cannot assess prognosis on a histological basis alone without other clinical and serological information.