Several semiquantitative morphologic methods have been described that evaluate extracellular matrix in biopsy specimens stained with either hematoxylin and eosin, or connective tissue stains such as Masson's trichrome, reticulin silver impregnation, or Van Gieson. Even these methods are not perfect, and can be prone to sampling error if the fibrosis is patchy. Semiquantitative methods include the Knodell-Ishak score, the French Metavir system, and others [3, 17]. Fewer scoring stages within the system leads to more agreement among pathologists. These methods may be complemented by more accurate morphometric approaches using image analysis, in which tissue is stained with picrosirius red [7], www.uptodate.com/patient_info/topicpages/topics/Cirrhosi/9999.asp#13