Centrilobular necrosis (CN) is a nonspecific histopathological observation brought on by hepatotoxins like acetaminophen (paracetamol),[1] thioacetamide, tetrachloride,[2] cardiac hepatopathy due to acute right sided cardiac failure, and congestive hepatic injury in veno-occlusive disease,[3] or hypoxic injury due to ischemia.

[2] Centrilobular necrosis can also be found in those with autoimmune hepatitis.

[4] Centrilobular necrosis is characterized by necrotic hepatocytes completely encircling the central vein.

[5] After a single or brief exposure to a toxicant, hepatocytes that have suffered centrilobular necrosis typically heal quickly; the liver can regain its normal appearance under a microscope in about a week.

Nevertheless, fibrosis, which may be slight, occurs in the previously necrotic zone surrounding the central vein when regeneration replaces the necrotic hepatocytes if sinusoidal cells and the normal scaffolding are destroyed.