Liver Biopsy Medical Test

A liver biopsy is a procedure whereby small pieces of liver tissue are removed in order to be sent to a laboratory for examination. This piece is not large enough to harm you permanently in any way. A liver biopsy will help you and your doctor find out more about the health of your liver. A liver biopsy is not usually painful. This is important if you have hepatitis C or another liver disease, and you are trying to decide about treatment. A liver biopsy can also be helpful if your doctor is not sure what is causing your liver problem. A special needle is used to remove the tissue from the liver. The physician decides to do a liver biopsy after tests suggest that the liver does not work properly. The test is usually done in the hospital. You may be given a sedative (a medication to calm you) or pain medication by injection before the test. Although liver biopsy is generally safe and is currently considered the criterion standard for the evaluation of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, sampling error, rare complications, and occasionally significant patient anxiety do occur. These factors have led to keen interest in the development of noninvasive tests of hepatic fibrosis.

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