Liver
A small sample of liver tissue, taken with a fine needle under ultrasound guidance, to confirm the diagnosis and stage of liver disease.
Overview
A liver biopsy removes a tiny core of liver tissue for examination under the microscope. The most common approach is percutaneous - a thin needle is passed through the skin into the liver under ultrasound guidance after local anaesthesia.
In patients with clotting problems or fluid in the abdomen, a transjugular approach through a vein in the neck may be used. A biopsy helps confirm the cause of liver disease, assess the degree of inflammation and scarring, and guide treatment - particularly when non-invasive tests like FibroScan are not conclusive.
Where: Hospital-based procedure, performed by Dr. Anikhindi at Apollo Hospitals. Consultation and planning at Medigest.
Liver
Blood tests and scans such as FibroScan can answer many questions about the liver. A liver biopsy is advised when they cannot: for example, to confirm autoimmune hepatitis, to find the cause of persistently abnormal liver tests, to assess overlap conditions, or to diagnose a liver mass. The biopsy also shows how much inflammation and scarring is present, which guides treatment.
Pain at the biopsy site or right shoulder is common and usually mild. The main risk is bleeding, which is uncommon; you are monitored for a few hours after the procedure for this reason. The doctor checks your blood counts and clotting and reviews blood thinners beforehand.
Dr. Shrihari Anikhindi assesses whether a biopsy is needed, explains the approach and arranges the procedure in a hospital setting. The results are discussed at a follow-up visit at Medigest, West Punjabi Bagh, or online.
Over the last decade, non-invasive tests have reduced the need for liver biopsy. Blood-based scores and FibroScan can estimate scarring in many people with fatty liver disease and viral hepatitis. A biopsy remains important when the diagnosis is uncertain, when two conditions may coexist, when results of non-invasive tests disagree, or when a liver mass needs a tissue diagnosis.
Seek urgent care if you develop increasing abdominal pain, dizziness, a fast heartbeat, breathlessness or fever after the procedure.
Book a consultation or request an online consultation to discuss whether Liver Biopsy is right for you.
Before & after
General guidance - the clinic gives you personalised instructions when you book.
On the day
The skin over the liver is numbed.
A fine needle takes a tissue core under ultrasound guidance.
You rest and are monitored for a few hours.
FAQ
No. Many liver conditions can be assessed with blood tests and FibroScan. A biopsy is advised when it will change the diagnosis or treatment.
Yes, a percutaneous liver biopsy is usually done under local anaesthesia, sometimes with a mild sedative. The needle is in the liver for only a second or two.
Most people can return to light work the next day. Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for about a week.
It shows the likely cause of liver disease, the degree of inflammation and the stage of scarring. This helps the doctor decide on treatment and monitoring.
Book a consultation first by phone, WhatsApp or the online form. Hospital-based procedure, performed by Dr. Anikhindi at Apollo Hospitals. Consultation and planning at Medigest. The clinic will share preparation instructions.
Related
A quick, non-invasive scan that measures liver stiffness (fibrosis) and liver fat - often helping avoid a liver biopsy.
Learn moreHospital-basedThe reference test for measuring portal hypertension in liver disease - used to assess severity, guide treatment and monitor response.
Learn moreHospital-basedUltrasound from inside the digestive tract for close-up images of the pancreas, bile ducts and GI wall - with needle biopsy or drainage in the same sitting.
Learn moreAppointments
Visit the clinic in West Punjabi Bagh, or book an online consultation from home.
