A gastroenterologist may follow the below-mentioned procedures to check the condition of the liver or related organs, such as the gallbladder or bile ducts.
Liver biopsy to identify any damage in liver tissue. A small amount of tissue is collected from the liver and studied in the lab to check for any signs of inflammation or scarring.
CT scan to obtain a three-dimensional picture of the liver and gallbladder. This can help in identifying gallstones, tumours, abscesses or abnormal blood vessels.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography or ERCP. This procedure can show any blockage or narrowing in the bile ducts.
HIDA scan to check the functioning of the gallbladder or liver. In the procedure, a radioactive fluid is put into the body, which can be seen on the scan as it advances through the liver to the gallbladder and into the intestine.
Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography or MRCP. It is an imaging test in which pictures of the pancreas, bile ducts and gallbladder are obtained with the help of strong magnets.
Sonogram to obtain a picture of the liver with the help of sound waves.