The paler areas are unaffected surrounding liver tissue. When severe and longstanding, hepatic congestion can lead to fibrosis; if congestion is due to right heart failure, it is called cardiac cirrhosis.
The paler areas surrounding the liver tissue are unaffected when there is hepatic congestion. Prolonged and severe congestion can result in fibrosis, which is a condition that causes scarring of the liver. If the cause of the congestion is right heart failure, then it is called cardiac cirrhosis.