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What is a liver biopsy?
A liver biopsy is an invasive procedure that obtains a small sample of liver tissue that can be tested for certain diseases. Click here for more information on a liver biopsy, including how the procedure is performed.
Note: A biopsy is a last
resort, used only when other methods don't
present strong enough evidence to support
a diagnosis of liver disease. Like any invasive
procedure, a liver biopsy has associated
risk, specifically the risk of bleeding
after the procedure. Patients with a low
platelet count are especially prone to post-operative
bleeding.
Image: Liver biopsy
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What does it mean to have an abnormal liver biopsy?
An abnormal liver biopsy indicates problems
with the liver tissue. Click here
for information on normal values and what
abnormal results may indicate. (Note:
Please scroll down to read about the results.)
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Possible causes/diagnosis:
Possible causes include:
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Science Links
Healthy Liver Function
This article clearly explains the liver
and its basic functions. It has excellent
images to help you understand liver anatomy,
as well as compare healthy and diseased
livers.
Understanding the Liver
This self-paced tutorial offers great information
on the liver using easy-to-understand language
and graphics. At this site you will also
find information on various liver diseases
and liver transplants. In the beginning
of the course you may want to focus on overall
liver function and come back to some of
the more detailed information later.
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