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