Main content Liver Biopsy

    Liver Biopsy



    Why It Is Done

    A Reference liver biopsy Opens New Window may be done to:

    • Find the cause of jaundice. A liver biopsy can find certain liver diseases (such as cirrhosis), infections (such as hepatitis), and liver tumors.
    • Find the cause of abnormal blood test results from aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) tests. Both ALT and AST levels show liver damage and can help confirm liver disease.
    • See how much the liver is inflamed or scarred by hepatitis or other liver diseases.
    • See whether other liver conditions, such as Reference hemochromatosis Opens New Window and Reference Wilson's disease Opens New Window, are present.
    • Check the response to treatment for liver disease.
    • Determine whether a medicine, such as methotrexate, is causing a toxic effect on the liver.
    • Check the function of a transplanted liver.
    • Find the cause of an unexplained and ongoing fever.
    • Check a liver mass found on an X-ray, ultrasound, or CT scan.



    By: Reference Healthwise Staff Last Revised: Reference December 13, 2011
    Medical Review: Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
    Reference Michel M. Murr, MD - General Surgery, Bariatric Surgery


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