_A liver biopsy is a procedure to remove a small piece of the liver so it can be examined with a microscope for signs of damage or disease. The three main types of liver biopsy are percutaneous (via a needle through the skin), transvenous/transjugular (through the blood vessels), and laparoscopic (directly during abdominal surgery). A liver biopsy is performed when a liver problem is difficult to diagnose with blood tests or imaging techniques, such as ultrasound and x-ray. More often, a liver biopsy is performed to estimate the degree of liver damage—a process called staging. Staging helps guide treatment.
Additional conditions under which a biopsy may be performed: