rare portal to portal bridging fibrosis

what exactly does fibrous portal expansion with rare portal to portal bridging fibrosis mean? I Did try to look it up but need a medical dictionary and it never really explained the rare part. Anyone?

[willbb]

Biopsy
Fibrosis Stage

Fibrosis usually begins in the portal area in HCV and in the central vein in alcoholic liver disease. Bridging fibrosis refers to the presence of fibrosis that reaches from a portal area to another portal area. Cirrhosis consists of extensive bridging fibrosis in the presence of regeneration such that normal portal areas and normal central veins cannot be identified.

Fibrosis (Stage)
Stage Description Criteria
0 No fibrosis Normal connective tissue
1 Portal fibrosis Fibrous portal expansion
2 Periportal fibrosis Periportal or rare portal-portal septa
3 Septal fibrosis Fibrous septa with architectural distortion; no obvious cirrhosis
4 Cirrhosis Cirrhosis

[willbb]

Some bridging of scarring(fibrosis) taking place...rare(not much.)... fancy way of saying likely st 2 damage.

[willbb]

Biopsy
Fibrosis Stage

Fibrosis usually begins in the portal area in HCV and in the central vein in alcoholic liver disease. Bridging fibrosis refers to the presence of fibrosis that reaches from a portal area to another portal area. Cirrhosis consists of extensive bridging fibrosis in the presence of regeneration such that normal portal areas and normal central veins cannot be identified.

Fibrosis (Stage)
Stage Description Criteria
0 No fibrosis Normal connective tissue
1 Portal fibrosis Fibrous portal expansion
2 Periportal fibrosis Periportal or rare portal-portal septa
3 Septal fibrosis Fibrous septa with architectural distortion; no obvious cirrhosis
4 Cirrhosis Cirrhosis

[screaming48]

Thank you Willbb, appreciate you answering, the path report did say between 1-2 of 4. I just would like it if they would phrase something every once in a while in laymans terms. lol :)