Liver biopsy: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

P A liver biopsy is a test that takes a sample of tissue from the liver for examination.

T How the Test is Performed
P Most of the time, the test is done in the hospital. Before the test is done, you may be given a medicine to prevent pain or to calm you (sedative).
P The biopsy may be done through the abdominal wall:
- You will lie on your back with your right hand under your head. You need to stay as still as you can.
- The health care provider will find the correct spot for the biopsy needle to be inserted into the liver. This is often done by using ultrasound.
- The skin is cleaned, and numbing medicine is injected into the area using a small needle.
- A small cut is made, and the biopsy needle is inserted.
- You will be told to hold your breath while the biopsy is taken. This is to reduce the chance of damage to the lung or liver.
- The needle is removed quickly.
- Pressure will be applied to stop the bleeding. A bandage is placed over the insertion site.
P The procedure can also be done by inserting a needle into the jugular vein.
- If the procedure is performed this way, you will lie on your back.
- X-rays will be used to guide the provider to the vein.
- A special needle and catheter (thin tube) is used to take the biopsy sample.
P If you receive sedation for this test, you will need someone to drive you home.

T How to Prepare for the Test
P Tell your provider about:
- Bleeding problems
- Drug allergies
- Medicines you are taking including herbs, supplements, or medicines you bought without a prescription.
- Whether you are pregnant
P You must sign a consent form. Blood tests are sometimes done to test your blood's ability to clot. You will be told not to eat or drink anything for the 8 hours before the test.
P For infants and children:
P The preparation needed for a child depends on the child's age and maturity. Your child's provider will tell you what you can do to prepare your child for this test.

T How the Test will Feel
P You will feel a stinging pain when the anesthetic is injected. The biopsy needle may feel like deep pressure and dull pain. Some people feel this pain in the shoulder.

T Why the Test is Performed
P The biopsy helps diagnose many liver diseases. The procedure also helps assess the stage (early, advanced) of liver disease. This is especially important in hepatitis B and C infection.
P The biopsy also helps detect:
- Cancer
- Infections
- The cause of abnormal levels of liver enzymes that have been found in blood tests
- The cause of an unexplained liver enlargement

T Normal Results
P The liver tissue is normal.

T What Abnormal Results Mean
P The biopsy may reveal a number of liver diseases, including cirrhosis, hepatitis, or infections such as tuberculosis. It may also indicate cancer.
P This test also may be performed for:
- Alcoholic liver disease (fatty liver, hepatitis, or cirrhosis)
- Amebic liver abscess
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Biliary atresia
- Chronic active hepatitis
- Chronic persistent hepatitis
- Disseminated coccidioidomycosis
- Hemochromatosis
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis D
- Hepatocellular carcinoma
- Hodgkin lymphoma
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Primary biliary cirrhosis
- Primary biliary cholangitis
- Pyogenic liver abscess
- Reye syndrome
- Sclerosing cholangitis
- Wilson disease

T Risks
P Risks may include:
- Collapsed lung
- Complications from the sedation
- Injury to the gallbladder or kidney
- Internal bleeding

T Alternative Names
P Biopsy - liver; Percutaneous biopsy

T Images
- Liver biopsy

T References
P Berk PD, Korenblat KM. Approach to the patient with jaundice or abnormal liver tests. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 147.
P Lomas DJ, Mannelli L. The liver and spleen. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, Schaefer-Prokop CM, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging. 6th ed. New York, NY: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2015:chap 31.
P Wedemeyer H. Hepatitis C. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 80.

T Review Date 1/29/2017
P Updated by: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

