American Board of Pathology (ABPath) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The distinguishing feature that helps identify cirrhosis is the loss of smooth contour. In cirrhosis, the liver undergoes significant scarring and fibrosis, which disrupts its normal architecture and results in an irregular surface. This roughness and nodularity are characteristic of the diseased liver, making its contour uneven. Additionally, this change in texture can be observed during imaging studies or upon physical examination of the liver.

While pitting edema can be associated with liver disease due to complications such as portal hypertension, it is not specific for cirrhosis. Increased liver size, or hepatomegaly, can occur in early stages of liver disease but is not a definitive sign of cirrhosis, as the liver may eventually shrink as the disease progresses. Normal liver texture does not apply to cirrhosis, as it is characterized specifically by its irregular and nodular appearance. Thus, the loss of smooth contour stands out as a key identifying characteristic of cirrhosis.