Who Needs a Liver Biopsy?
A liver biopsy may be done if you have:
- Symptoms of a liver problem, such as jaundice (yellowing skin and eyes or dark urine), due to infection, scarring, or damage from medications
- Abnormal liver imaging or blood tests
- A chronic liver condition
What a Liver Biopsy Can Do
A liver biopsy helps your doctor diagnose a liver problem, such as cirrhosis or a fatty liver. It also aids him or her in assessing the cause and severity of your liver problem.
Possible Risks and Complications
- Infection
- Internal bleeding from the liver
- Damage to organs near the liver (lungs, gallbladder, or intestines)
- Need for a second liver biopsy if not enough liver tissue was obtained the first time
