Hepatitis - Diagnosis
Liver BiopsiesA liver biopsy may be performed for acute viral hepatitis caught in a late stage or for severe cases of chronic hepatitis. No laboratory tests for enzyme or viral levels can truly determine the actual damage to the liver. A biopsy helps determine treatment possibilities, the extent of damage, and the long-term outlook. The biopsy requires abdominal surgery, most often laparoscopy. This procedure requires general anesthesia and involves the following steps: - The physician makes one or more small incisions (about 0.5 - 1.0 inch) in the abdomen.
- Carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide is delivered through the incision to inflate the abdomen so that the involved area is visible.
- The surgeon inserts a thin tube, called a laparoscope, which contains a tiny camera. Surgical instruments are also inserted through the incision to remove the liver tissue for biopsy.
- It takes about an hour.
 | Click the icon to see an explanation of liver biopsy. |
A less invasive procedure, called a minilaparoscopy, uses a smaller scope and may prove to reduce the time of the procedure. Screening for Liver CancerPatients with cirrhosis are usually screened for liver cancer using tests for a substance called alpha-fetoproetin (AFP) and ultrasound. It is not known, however, if such screening has much impact on survival, since it is not very sensitive and has a high rate of false positives (suggesting the presence of cancer when it is not actually present). Screening is not necessary in patients without cirrhosis.
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