Ultrasonography Guided Liver Biopsy Home A-Z Health Information Health Library A-Z Ultrasonography Guided Liver Biopsy Overview A liver biopsy is regarded as a minimally invasive medical procedure in which a small sample of tissue from a patient’s liver is removed for further analysis. This makes it possible for physicians to determine what may be occurring in a person’s liver, particularly if other techniques such as blood tests or imaging do not provide appropriate clues. The liver is an organ in the body whose location is upper right side of the abdomen and serves the essential functions of cleansing poison, forming proteins, and assisting in food metabolism. Depending on the enzymes and biochemicals analysis, a biopsy can reveal a wide range of conditions including infection and inflammation to malignancy or other structural lesions. Reasons for Examination Liver biopsy may be done at the request of the doctor for the following reasons:Assessment of undiagnosed symptoms: Chronic lack of energy, jaundice, or inactive thyroid alongside abnormal test results focusing on the functioning of the liver may warrant a biopsy to be done for further diagnosis.Chronic liver conditions: Other liver diseases such as hepatitis, liver fat, liver cirrhosis and other chronic liver conditions can be treated based on the patient's liver biopsy.Cancer screening: If the imaging studies indicate possibility of presence of liver malignancy, then use of a liver cancer biopsy can confirm the diagnosis.Evaluate progression of the disease: A liver biopsy may help give some evaluative insight on how much body damage has been inflicted over issues like auto immune hepatitis, genetic liver diseases amongst many others.Assess treatment responses: It is often used for monitoring the outcome of conditions that affect the liver. Preparation As for the procedure, your doctor will educate you on how to prepare for the biopsy You would be advised to not take any food or drink for a few hours prior to the procedure. Some medications that may cause bleeding need to be temporarily suspended. Additionally you will be advised to have a blood check performed to ensure safe clotting during the biopsy. Procedure A liver biopsy is a quick procedure, taking around 15 to 20 minutes, and is performed under daycare admission process. Here is what you need to be ready for:The patient will be asked to lie down flat on the back or perhaps on the left side at a slight angle.Thereafter, the skin that is above the liver area will be disinfected and local anaesthesia will be injected into the region.Using ultrasound or physical guidance, a thin needle is inserted to collect a small tissue sample. This part lasts only a few seconds.The sample collected is sent to a pathology lab for analysis while the patient will be monitored for a few hours afterward to ensure there are no immediate complications. Benefits A liver biopsy presents the following advantages:Accurate Diagnosis: It directly reflects the health of the liver and can show a number of conditions.Disease Assessment: Assists in determining the treatment depending on how far advanced the condition is.Chronic Diseases Surveillance: Assesses variations over time in order to modify treatment approaches. Alternatives to liver biopsy If a biopsy is deemed not suitable, one’s healthcare practitioner may recommend:Imaging tests: Ultrasound, CT scans, or MRI for structural analysis.Non-invasive techniques: FibroScan or specialized blood tests to assess liver stiffness and function.Liver function tests (LFTs): These can monitor enzyme levels but don’t provide as much detail as a biopsy. Side Effects and Risks Liver biopsies are generally safe, but like any procedure, they carry some risks:Mild discomfort: You might feel soreness where the needle was inserted or in your shoulder.Bleeding: While rare, internal bleeding can occur but is usually manageable without surgery.Bile leakage: A very rare complication if bile ducts are punctured.Infection: As with any invasive procedure, there is a small chance of infection.