title: Biliary atresia: a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biliary atresia is an inflammatory cholangiopathy of infancy that results in progressive fibrosis and obliteration of bile ducts and represents the main indication for liver transplant in young children. In spite of extensive investigation, its etiology has remained poorly understood. Timely surgical intervention (Kasai procedure) may result in significant benefit to these patients and represents the final goal of an accurate diagnostic evaluation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present an overview of biliary atresia, including clinical and surgical approaches to this disease, with emphasis on the histopathologic evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of relevant literature indexed in PubMed (US National Library of Medicine).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A well-coordinated multidisciplinary approach is required in the assessment of suspected cases of biliary atresia. Pathologic examination of biopsy specimens is an integral part of the diagnostic algorithm and, therefore, plays a pivotal role in the diagnostic evaluation of this disease.
authors: Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA. roger_moreira@hotmail.com
authors: Roger Klein
authors: RK
authors: Moreira
authors: Rodrigo
authors: R
authors: Cabral
authors: Robert A
authors: RA
authors: Cowles
authors: Steven J
authors: SJ
authors: Lobritto
mesh_terms: D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011171:Portoenterostomy, Hepatic