Liver biopsy

Date Updated: 11/24/2020

Overview

A liver biopsy is a procedure to remove a small piece of liver tissue, so it can be examined under a microscope for signs of damage or disease. Your doctor may recommend a liver biopsy if blood tests or imaging studies suggest you might have a liver problem. A liver biopsy is also used to determine the severity of liver disease. This information helps guide treatment decisions.

The most common type of liver biopsy is called percutaneous liver biopsy. It involves inserting a thin needle through your abdomen into the liver and removing a small piece of tissue. Two other types of liver biopsy — one using a vein in the neck (transjugular) and the other using a small abdominal incision (laparoscopic) — also remove liver tissue with a needle.

Why it's done

A liver biopsy may be done to:

Diagnose a liver problem that can't be otherwise identified
Obtain a sample of tissue from an abnormality found by an imaging study
Determine the severity of liver disease — a process called staging
Help develop treatment plans based on the liver's condition
Determine how well treatment for liver disease is working
Monitor the liver after a liver transplant

Your doctor may recommend a liver biopsy if you have:

Abnormal liver test results that can't be explained
A mass (tumor) or other abnormalities on your liver as seen on imaging tests
Ongoing, unexplained fevers

A liver biopsy also is commonly performed to help diagnose and stage certain liver diseases, including:

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Chronic hepatitis B or C
Autoimmune hepatitis
Alcoholic liver disease
Primary biliary cirrhosis
Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Hemochromatosis
Wilson's disease

Risks

A liver biopsy is a safe procedure when performed by an experienced doctor. Possible risks include:

Pain. Pain at the biopsy site is the most common complication after a liver biopsy. Pain after a liver biopsy is usually a mild discomfort. If pain makes you uncomfortable, you may be given a narcotic pain medication, such as acetaminophen with codeine (Tylenol with Codeine).
Bleeding. Bleeding can occur after a liver biopsy. Excessive bleeding may require you to be hospitalized for a blood transfusion or surgery to stop the bleeding.
Infection. Rarely, bacteria may enter the abdominal cavity or bloodstream.
Accidental injury to a nearby organ. In rare instances, the needle may stick another internal organ, such as the gallbladder or a lung, during a liver biopsy.

In a transjugular procedure, a thin tube is inserted through a large vein in your neck and passed down into the vein that runs through your liver. If you have a transjugular liver biopsy, other infrequent risks include:

Collection of blood (hematoma) in the neck. Blood may pool around the site where the catheter was inserted, potentially causing pain and swelling.
Temporary problems with the facial nerves. Rarely, the transjugular procedure can injure nerves and affect the face and eyes, causing short-term problems, such as a drooping eyelid.
Temporary voice problems. You may be hoarse, have a weak voice or lose your voice for a short time.
Puncture of the lung. If the needle accidentally sticks your lung, the result may be a collapsed lung (pneumothorax).

How you prepare

Before your liver biopsy, you'll meet with your doctor to talk about what to expect during the biopsy. This is a good time to ask questions about the procedure and make sure you understand the risks and benefits.

Food and medications

When you meet with your doctor, bring a list of all medications you take, including over-the-counter medications, vitamins and herbal supplements. Before your liver biopsy, you'll likely be asked to stop taking medications and supplements that can increase the risk of bleeding, including:

Aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and certain other pain relievers
Blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants), such as warfarin
Certain dietary supplements that may increase the risk of uncontrolled bleeding

You may be asked not to drink or eat for six to eight hours before the liver biopsy. Some people can eat a light breakfast.

Pre-biopsy blood tests

Before your biopsy, you'll have a blood test to check your blood's ability to clot. If you have blood-clotting problems, you may be given a medication before your biopsy to reduce the risk of bleeding.

Arrangements for your recovery

You may receive a sedative before your liver biopsy. If this is the case, arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure. Have someone stay with you or check on you during the first night. Many doctors recommend that people spend the first evening within an hour's driving distance of the hospital where the biopsy is done, in case a complication develops.

What you can expect

What you can expect during your liver biopsy will depend on the type of procedure you'll undergo. A percutaneous liver biopsy is the most common type of liver biopsy, but it isn't an option for everyone. Your doctor may recommend a different form of liver biopsy if you:

Could have trouble holding still during the procedure
Have a history of or likelihood of bleeding problems or blood-clotting disorders
Might have a tumor involving blood vessels in your liver
Have an abnormal amount of fluid in your abdomen (ascites)
Are very obese
Have a liver infection

During the procedure

A liver biopsy is done at a hospital or outpatient center. You'll likely arrive early in the morning.

Just before your biopsy you will:

Have an IV line placed, usually into a vein in your arm, so that you can be given medications if you need them
Possibly be given a sedative to help you relax during the procedure
Use the toilet if needed because you'll need to remain in bed for a few hours after the procedure

The steps involved in liver biopsy vary according to the type:

Percutaneous biopsy. To begin your procedure, your doctor will locate your liver by tapping on your abdomen or using ultrasound images. In certain situations, ultrasound might be used during the biopsy to guide the needle into your liver. You'll lie on your back and position your right hand above your head on the table.

Your doctor will apply a numbing medication to the area where the needle will be inserted. The doctor then makes a small incision near the bottom of your rib cage on your right side and inserts the biopsy needle. The biopsy itself takes just a few seconds. As the needle passes quickly in and out of your liver, you'll be asked to hold your breath.
Transjugular biopsy. You'll lie on your back on an X-ray table. Your doctor applies a numbing medication to one side of your neck, makes a small incision and inserts a flexible plastic tube into your jugular vein. The tube is threaded down the jugular vein and into the large vein in your liver (hepatic vein).

Your doctor then injects a contrast dye into the tube and makes a series of X-ray images. The dye shows up on the images, allowing the doctor to see the hepatic vein. A biopsy needle is then threaded through the tube, and one or more liver samples are removed. The catheter is carefully removed, and the incision on your neck is covered with a bandage.
Laparoscopic biopsy. During a laparoscopic biopsy, you'll likely receive general anesthetics. You'll be positioned on your back on an operating table and your doctor will make one or more small incisions in your abdomen.

Special tools are inserted through the incisions, including a tiny video camera that projects images on a monitor in the operating room. The doctor uses the video images to guide the tools to the liver to remove tissue samples. The tools are removed and the incisions are closed with stitches.

After the procedure

After the biopsy, you can expect to:

Be taken to a recovery room, where a nurse will monitor your blood pressure, pulse and breathing
Rest quietly for two to four hours, or longer if you had a transjugular procedure
Feel some soreness where the needle was inserted, which may last as long as a week
Have someone drive you home, since you won't be able to drive until the sedative wears off
Avoid lifting more than 10 to 15 pounds for one week
Be able to get back to your usual activities gradually over a period of a week

Results

Your liver tissue goes to a laboratory to be examined by a doctor who specializes in diagnosing disease (pathologist). The pathologist will look for signs of disease and damage to the liver. Your biopsy report should come back from the pathology lab within a few days to a week.

At a follow-up visit, your doctor will explain the results. You may be diagnosed with a liver disease, or your liver disease may be given a stage or grade number based on the severity — mild, moderate or severe. Your doctor will discuss what treatment, if any, you need.