ductular reaction

Definition: Increase in the number and prominence of small biliary channels in and around the portal tracts.

Synopsis:

 tubular to elongated profiles
 lined by cuboidal or columnar epithelium
 well-defined lumen or not

Etiology:

 acute or chronic cholestasis
 sepsis
 massive hepatic necrosis
 hepatic fibrosis
 hepatic cirrhosis
 miscellaneous

• nephronophthisis-associated hepatic disease
• hepatic Ellis-van Creveld disease

Elementary lesions associated:

  bile plugs
 ductular dilatation
 neutrophilic infiltration

Differential diagnosis:

 must be distinguished from interlobular bile ducts