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Liver biopsy is a safe and important diagnostic tool for liver disease.
As mentioned previously, measurement of hepatic copper and iron stores in biopsy specimens is the most sensitive method for diagnosing metabolic disorders such as Wilson's disease and hemochromatosis. Often, laboratory studies do not clarify the specific cause of disease, but microscopic examination of a biopsy specimen can reveal disease-specific patterns. In addition, laboratory blood tests may inaccurately stage the disease or estimate the extent of damage, but histological examination of hepatic architecture may provide this important information. Finally, sequential liver biopsies can be useful in assessing the response to medical therapies, such as alpha interferon treatment for viral hepatitis B or C infection. The skin area around the proposed needle entry site is then sterilized, and a local anesthetic, such as lidocaine, is injected into the skin.