What is this?
A liver biopsy is a short procedure to remove a small piece of liver tissue. It can then be examined under a microscope and
tested chemically in the laboratories. A percutaneous liver biopsy is carried out by inserting a needle through the skin (percutaneously).
The liver is the largest organ in the body and is located in the top right hand side of the abdomen.
Procedure
A liver biopsy is a procedure in which a small needle is inserted into the liver to collect a tissue sample. This is performed as an office or
outpatient procedure or during surgery. The tissue is then analyzed in a laboratory to help doctors diagnose a variety of disorders and diseases in the liver.
Indications
Hepatic:
Infancy
• Neonatal hepatitis syndrome
• Biliary atresia
Childhood (Early)
• Hepatoma
• Hepatoblastoma
Childhood (Late)
• Chronic liver disease
• Cirrhosis of liver
• Wilson’s disease
Storage disease
• Glycogen storage disease
• Other storage disease
Others
• Unexplained hepatomegaly
• Persistent raised SGPT/ALT
