Overview

This information is about having a small procedure called a liver biopsy in the interventional radiology (IR) department.

A liver biopsy is a medical test, where we remove a small sample of tissue from your liver with a thin needle. The sample is then examined in detail under a microscope.

A specialist doctor called an interventional radiologist (IR doctor) does the procedure. They use X-ray, ultrasound or CT scanning equipment to put the biopsy needle accurately into the liver.

The aim of the information is to help answer some of your questions about having a liver biopsy. It explains:

• the benefits of the procedure
• the risks of the procedure
• how to prepare for the procedure
• what happens during the procedure
• what happens after the procedure

If you have any more questions or concerns about your procedure, please contact the interventional radiology (IR) department.

Benefits of the procedure

A biopsy can help your doctor to diagnose a liver condition and make sure that you get the right treatment.

If tests show a problem in your liver, it is not always possible to find the cause or extent of this from just scans. The easiest way to make a diagnosis is to examine a sample of liver tissue in detail under a microscope.

Risks of the procedure

There might be bruising or a small amount of swelling around the area where we put in the needle (the biopsy site). This is because of bleeding into the skin, but should not be painful and will heal.

After the biopsy, there is a small risk of bleeding inside the body. There might be a greater chance of bleeding from the biopsy site if you:

• take aspirin
• take warfarin or any other anticoagulant medicine that helps to prevent blood clots
• have a bleeding disorder

This is why you stay in hospital for 4 to 5 hours after the procedure and we monitor you closely.

Other treatment options

A liver biopsy is the only way for your doctor to:

• get the information needed to make a correct diagnosis
• treat your condition