The presence of hepatic intramitochondrial crystalline inclusions in routine liver biopsies.

Electron microscope examination of the liver biopsies of 33 patients revealed the presence of intramitochondrial crystalline inclusions (IMCI) in ten of them. Three patients suffered from iron deficiency anemia, porphyria, and malignant melanoma, conditions not reported to be associated with IMCI. Comparison of the clinical and laboratory findings of patients with and without IMCI did not show significant difference, or a clue for clarifying the nature of this phenomenon. Although these inclusions were reported in normal individuals, the possibility that they are the result of liver damage is not excluded.