Saturday, February, 11, 2012

Liver biopsy

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Biopsy - liver; Percutaneous biopsy


Normal Values

The liver tissue is normal.


What abnormal results mean

The biopsy may reveal a number of liver diseases, including cirrhosis, hepatitis, or infections such as tuberculosis. It may also indicate cancer.

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's lymphoma
  • Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
  • Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
  • Primary biliary cirrhosis
  • Pyogenic liver abscess
  • Reye syndrome
  • Sclerosing cholangitis
  • Wilson's disease

Review Date: 01/10/2011
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)