A liver biopsy is when there is a small piece of tissue removed from the liver for it to undergo testing. There are three types of liver biopsy. When one is done, it will help estimate the stage, or degree, of liver damage that the cancer has achieved. Biopsy of the liver is done when xrays and blood tests have made it difficult to diagnose.
Doing a Biopsy
Each of the three types of liver biopsy is done with a needle insertion. The needle goes into the tissue of the liver and a small portion is extracted. A biopsy can be done in an office, specialty healthcare facility, or at the hospital. Your doctor will let you know where you will be having your biopsy.
Percutaneous Liver Biopsy
This is the most common form of liver biopsy done. The needle is hollow and put through the abdomen into the liver to remove the tissue. The doctor may use an ultrasound or a computerized tomography (CT) scan, to find the liver and avoid pricking other organs. If an imaging test is not given to find the liver, the doctor can tap the abdomen to find them liver. Patients lie up to two hours to keep the risk of bleeding low. They are then given two to four hours of monitoring to make sure they are fine to travel home.
Transvenous Liver Biopsy
If the patient clots slowly or there is ascites (where there is excess fluid in the abdomen), this is the type of biopsy given. A local anesthetic is given to the neck area and there will be an IV of pain medications and sedatives. An incision in the neck will give way to a hollow tube going through the jugular vein. Then there is a biopsy needles going into the liver with the tissue collected. Patients will be monitored for four to six hours after this type of procedure.
Laparoscopic Liver Biopsy
If there is a risk of spreading the cancer or infection, this is the type of liver biopsy done. There are a few small incisions made and the patient will have an IV of pain medication and sedatives. A tubelike instrument will be inserted and inflated, the needle being put through the tubelike instrument. Once the tissue is removed from the body, the incisions are closed and there will be a few hours of monitoring so that the sedation can wear off.
Results from any of these types of biopsy procedures can take a few days to get back. When they are back, your doctor will inform you of the results.
Source: NIH Publication No. 09-4731, May 2009