A percutaneous liver biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of liver tissue to help diagnose liver cancer or other liver conditions.
It involves inserting a hollow tube needle through the skin into the liver to remove a small piece of tissue.
A pathologist then examines the tissue under a microscope and may perform special tests or stains to detect disorders of the liver.
Before your test, your doctor or nurse coordinator from the UPMC Liver Cancer Center will communicate with you about:
You will also need a blood test, prior to the biopsy, to determine how your blood is clotting.
The percutaneous liver biopsy is performed in the radiology department at UPMC with the use of ultrasound.
A local anesthetic is injected into the skin and abdominal wall prior to the biopsy, making the procedure relatively painless.
During the procedure:
Following the procedure:
Approximately one week after the test, your doctor will notify you of the results of your percutaneous liver biopsy.