A liver biopsy is a medical procedure in which a doctor removes a small piece of the liver for examination under a microscope. A liver biopsy is usually done after tests such as imaging scans and blood tests indicate a problem with the liver. A liver biopsy can diagnose liver diseases and estimate the degree of liver damage as well as help a doctor determine the best treatment for the problem.
A liver biopsy is performed in one of three ways.
A liver biopsy is performed in one of three ways.
- In a percutaneous liver biopsy, a hollow needle is inserted through the abdomen to the liver to extract a piece of liver tissue. This type of biopsy is usually done using a local anesthetic (although pain medication and sedatives may be offered if needed), and while using an ultrasound scan to help the doctor guide the needle to the targeted spot on the liver.
- A transvenous liver biopsy (or transjugular venous biopsy) is also done using local anesthesia and pain medication and/or sedatives if needed. In this procedure, a small incision is made in the neck and a sheath is threaded into the jugular vein and into one of the veins of the liver. A dye is put into the sheath and picked up by the vein in the liver so that an x-ray can be taken that will create an image of the veins of the liver. Then a biopsy needle is threaded into the sheath and used to extract one or more tissue samples from the liver. The needle and sheath are then withdrawn and the doctor applies a bandage to the small incision.
- A laparoscopic liver biopsy is done with the patient under general anesthesia given through a vein in the arm. The doctor inserts a lighted tube called a laparoscope through a small cut in the abdomen until it reaches the liver. The laparoscope sends images of your liver to a computer monitor. The doctor watches the monitor and inserts instruments into the laparoscope to take tiny tissue samples from the liver. Recovery from a liver biopsy usually takes one or two days.