Liver Biopsy: What To Think About

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What To Think About

• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) are blood tests done to check liver function. Both ALT and AST levels show liver damage and may be done to help diagnose liver disease. A liver biopsy may be done when AST and ALT levels are very high and no other reason for high levels is found. For more information, see the medical tests Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT).
• A liver biopsy should not be done on people who have bleeding or blood clotting problems, or certain types of belly infections.
• A transvenous liver biopsy is another method that may be used. This test inserts a thin tube (catheter) into a neck vein which is guided to the liver. A sample can be taken through the catheter.
• If a larger sample of liver tissue is needed, an open biopsy of the liver may be done at another time, using surgery or laparoscopy. A liver biopsy is sometimes done at the same time as another abdominal surgery. For more information, see the medical test Laparoscopy.
• A fine-needle aspiration biopsy may be done to get a sample of liver cells and to collect fluid from the liver. If an infection is suspected, a culture may be done on the fluid to see what type of organism is present. A fine-needle biopsy may be done during a CT scan, ultrasound, or MRI test to check for liver problems. For more information, see the medical tests Computed Tomography (CT) Scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Abdominal Ultrasound.

Last updated:	August 14, 2008
Author:	Monica Rhodes
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, C. Dale Mercer, MD, FRCSC, FACS - General Surgery
Editors:	Maria Essig, Tracy Landauer