A liver biopsy is a procedure in which a small needle is inserted into the
liver to collect a tissue sample. The tissue is then analyzed in a laboratory to
help doctors diagnose a variety of disorders and
diseases in the liver. A liver
biopsy is most often performed to help identify the cause of:
In most instances, there are no complications in obtaining a liver biopsy. However, rarely internal bleeding may occur, as well as a leak of bile from the liver or gallbladder.
How Do I Prepare for a Liver Biopsy?
When preparing for a liver biopsy, there are several things to keep in mind.
Tell your doctor if you're pregnant, have a lung or heart condition, are
allergic to any medications, or have bleeding problems.
Tell your doctor if you are taking blood-thinning medications such as
Coumadin,
Plavix, or
Persantine. Your doctor may prescribe an alternate method
for thinning your blood before the procedure.
For the week before the procedure, do not take aspirin, products containing
aspirin, or
anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, Naprosyn,
or Indocin) unless otherwise advised by your doctor.
Do not discontinue any medication without first consulting with your primary
or referring doctor.
What Happens on the Day of a Liver Biopsy?
Laboratory tests will be performed on the day of a liver biopsy or 2-3 days
before the procedure, as directed by your doctor. These tests may include a
blood count, a platelet count, and a measurement of your blood's ability to
clot.
Before the procedure:
A doctor will explain the biopsy procedure in detail, including possible
complications and answer any questions you may have.
During the procedure:
You will be asked to wear a hospital gown.
You will lie on your back, with your right elbow out to the side and your
right hand under your head. It is important that you remain as still as possible
during the procedure.
An ultrasound may be used to mark the location of your liver.
You may receive a small dose of a sedative just prior to the procedure.
The doctor cleans and numbs an area on your upper abdomen with a local
anesthetic (pain-relieving medication). The doctor then makes a small incision
on your upper abdomen and inserts a needle into this incision to take a small
sample of liver tissue for analysis.
The procedure takes about 5 minutes.
After the procedure:
You will stay in a recovery room for up to 4 hours for observation.
You may feel minor discomfort or a dull pain in your shoulders or back. If
necessary, a pain medication will be prescribed for you.
Do not drive or operate machinery for at least eight hours after the
procedure.
Avoid taking aspirin, products containing aspirin, or anti-inflammatory
drugs (such as ibuprofen, Advil, Naprosyn, Indocin, or Motrin) for one week
after the procedure. You may take acetaminophen (Tylenol) if needed.
Do not perform vigorous physical activity for at least 24 hours after the
biopsy.
Your doctor will discuss the biopsy results with you several days after the
procedure.
Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world and the majority of patients with liver cancer will die within one year as a result. Patients with associated cirrhosis caused by chronic hepatitis B or C infections, alcohol, and hemochromatosis are at the greatest risk of developing liver cancer. Many patients with liver cancer do not develop symptoms until the advanced stages of the tumor which usually makes prognosis poor. The combination of an imaging study (ultrasound, CT, or MRI scans) and an elevated blood level of alpha-fetoprotein will most effectively diagnose liver cancer, while a liver biopsy can make a definitive diagnosis. Medical treatments, including chemotherapy, chemoembolization, ablation, and proton beam therapy, are not very effective. Surgical removal of the tumor or a liver transplant may be most effective in certain cases.
Cirrhosis of the liver refers to a disease in which normal liver cells are replaced by scar tissue caused by alcohol and viral hepatitis B and C. This disease leads to abnormalities in the liver's ability to handle toxins and blood flow, causing internal bleeding, kidney failure, mental confusion, coma, body fluid accumulation, and frequent infections. Symptoms include yellowing of the skin, itching, and fatigue.
Liver disease can be cause by a variety of things including infection (hepatitis), diseases such as gallstones, high cholesterol or triglycerides, blood flow obstruction to the liver, and toxins (medications and chemicals). Symptoms of liver disease depends upon the cause; however, common symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, upper right abdominal pain, and jaundice. Treatment depends upon the cause of the liver disease.
Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver due to the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is usually spread by
blood transfusion, hemodialysis, and needle sticks, especially with intravenous
drug abuse. Chronic hepatitis C may be treated with interferon, usually in combination with anti-virals.
Jaundice is a yellowish staining of the skin and whites of the eyes (sclerae) with bilirubin, the pigment found in bile. Jaundice can be an indicator of liver or gallbladder disease, or it may result from the rupture of red blood cells (hemolysis).
Gallbladder (gall bladder) pain can be caused by gallbladder disease such as gallstones or cholecystitis. Causes of gallbladder pain can be caused from biliary colic. Biliary colic is pain caused by gallstones trapped in the bile ducts. Cholecystitis is inflammation of the
gallbladder. Symptoms of gallbladder disease include nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating and belching, sweating, and shortness of breath. Treatment of gallbladder pain depends on the cause.
Drug-induced liver diseases are diseases of the liver that are caused by physician-prescribed medications, OTC medications, vitamins, hormones, herbs, illicit (“recreational”) drugs, and environmental toxins. There are three types of liver toxicity; dose-dependent toxicity, idiosyncratic toxicity, and drug allergy. The types of liver disease drugs cause include: mild elevations of blood levels of liver enzymes, hepatitis, necrosis, cholestasis, steatosis, cirrhosis, mixed disease, fulminant hepatitis, and blood clots.
The hepatitis B virus is a unique, coated DNA virus belonging to the Hepadnaviridae family of viruses. The course of the virus is determined primarily by the age at which the infection is acquired and the interaction between the virus and the body's immune system. Successful treatment is associated with a reduction in liver injury and fibrosis (scarring), a decreased likelihood of developing cirrhosis and its complications, including liver cancer, and a prolonged survival.
Tylenol liver damage (acetaminophen) can occur from accidentally ingesting too much acetaminophen, or intentionally. Acetaminophen is a drug contained in over 200 OTC and prescription medications from NyQuil to Vicodin. Avoiding unintentional overdoses include reading medication labels, write down the dosages of medications you are taking, do not drink excessive alcohol while taking acetaminophen. In severe cases, a liver transplant may be necessary.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to a wide spectrum of liver disease ranging from simple fatty liver (steatosis), to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), to cirrhosis (irreversible, advanced scarring of the liver). All of the stages of NAFLD have in common the accumulation of fat (fatty infiltration) in the liver cells (hepatocytes).
Hepatitis is most often viral, due to infection with one of the hepatitis viruses (A, B, C, D, E, F (not confirmed), and G) or another virus (such as those that cause infectious mononucleosis, cytomegalovirus disease). The main nonviral causes of hepatitis are alcohol and drugs. Many patients infected with hepatitis A, B, and C have few or no symptoms of illness. For those who do develop symptoms of viral hepatitis, the most common are flu- like symptoms including: loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fever, weakness, tiredness, and aching in the abdomen. Treatment of viral hepatitis is dependant on the type of hepatitis.
Hereditary hemochromatosis (iron overload) is an inherited disorder in which there is excessive accumulation of iron in the body. Individuals may have no symptoms or signs, or they can have severe symptoms and signs of iron overload. The most effective treatment for hemochromatosis is therapeutic phlebotomy.
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis is a chronic disease characterized by progressive inflammation and destruction of small bile ducts within the liver. The bile ducts transport bile from the liver to the intestine for the absorption of fat and elimination of waste products. The causes of Primary Biliary Cirrhosis may involve autoimmunity, infection, or genetic predisposition, acting alone or in combination. There are many medications and treatment options available for those with this and other associated diseases of Primary Biliary Cirrhosis.
The liver is the largest solid organ in the body, and is actually an gland. The liver has a wide variety of critical functions such as manufacturing proteins and metabolizing fats and carbohydrates. The liver also eliminates harmful biochemical waste products from the body (alcohol, drugs, toxins). The liver secretes bile that aids in digestion. Examples of diseases of the liver include cirrhosis, hepatitis, cancer, and fatty liver. Symptoms of liver disease include bleeding, easy bruising, edema, fatigue, and jaundice.
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic, progressive disease of the bile ducts that channel bile from the liver into the intestines. There is an association between primary sclerosing cholangitis and ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Symptoms of primary sclerosing cholangitis include abnormal liver blood tests, itching, fatigue, and jaundice. Primary sclerosing cholangitis is treated with medications and in some cases, liver transplant.
Digestion is the complex process of turning food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated, and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food.
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is an inherited disorder that may cause liver and lung disease in adults. Signs and symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, weight loss, respiratory infections, fatigue, vision abnormalities. Advanced lung disease from alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency include emphysema. Liver damage from alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency causes a swollen abdomen, swollen legs or feet, and jaundice.
Schistosomiasis (snail fever), a disease caused by parasites, causes a variety of symptoms and signs, such as cough, rash and bloody diarrhea. Praziquantel is used in the treatment of schistosomiasis.
Cirrhosis is a complication of many liver diseases that
is characterized by abnormal structure and function of the liver. The diseases
that lead to cirrhosis do so because they injure and kill liver cells, and the
inflammation and repair that is associated with the dying liver cells causes
scar tissue to form. The liver cells that do not die multiply in an attempt to
replace the cells that have died. This results in clusters of newly-formed liver
cells (regenerative nodules) within the scar tissue. There are many causes of
cirrhosis; they include chemicals (such as alcohol, fat, and certain
medications), viruses, toxic metals
(such as iron and copper that accumulate in
the liver as a result of genetic diseases), and autoimmune liver disease in
which the body's immune system attacks the liver.
Why does cirrhosis cause problems?
The liver is an important organ in the body. It performs
many...
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