The penetration and destruction of hepatocytes by lymphocytes (aggressive emperipolesis) has been described and examined quantitatively in biopsy specimens of chronic hepatitis. In 48 cases of chronic persistent hepatitis, the aggressive emperipolesis was rare and, obviously, not of great importance: sometimes there was no emperipolesis at all. In 36 cases of chronic aggressive hepatitis, however, emperioplesis was always evident, usually even to a very high extent.