Liver Biopsy

[utep99]

I have made a appointment with The Cleveland Clinic to speak to a Doctor for a Liver Biopsy. I have read this is a risky procedure with 1 out of 100 dying as a result of this procedure. Is there anything I need to be watchful of if this procedure is done.

[nash2 Partner]

Hi Utep

One of the problems today is that there is so much really poor information on the web and it scares people badly. Let me help you. It is true that like any other procedure biopsy has risk, however, with modern methods the death rate is less than 1 in 10,000 when done by experienced doctors. Here is an article from 2010 about it and procedures have improved since then.

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

There are medical conditions associated with liver disease that raise the risk, but the Cleveland Clinic is among the best in the world so caution is appropriate but it isn't something to fear. I have had 3 biopsies myself. You may be at greater risk from Cleveland traffic than the biopsy.

The risks are elevated for cirrhosis patients, things like low platelet counts are a caution signal, but ask the docs about the risks for you specifically because like all of these things, everyone has their special flavor of hazard.

Wayne

[utep99 in reply to nash2]

Thanks NASH

[Leveykeyviking]

Of course, some people will be in deplorable health at the time of biopsy, other not so much as noted; so the risk varies. I would DEFINITELY ask "What do we stand to learn from the biopsy and how will it change future treatment." When I was diagnosed with non-cirrhotic liver blockage (went to ER due passing out...anemia), I was immediately accused of being an alcoholic in denial...it took a few days for someone to ask the right questions and narrow it down to damage from platinum based chemotherapy. The hospital staff said I should get a biopsy ASAP, but my regular gastro said we will do the same things regardless of what the biopsy tells us, so it is really not of any value. I'm just moving forward at this point, trying to do all of the right things, and I agree with my doc that a biopsy is useless if it doesn't change what we will do for treatment. (I've since had to get a TIPS liver bypass but doing well with appropriate ammonia eliminating meds.)

[Cats2018]

Hi Utep,

I was fearful regarding a liver biopsy because of what I’d heard and read, but when I had my fibro scan, the hepatologist diagnosed NASH either stage 2 or stage 3. She suggested a liver biopsy as soon as possible. I ended up signing up to participate in a clinical trial through her clinic and as part of the clinical trial, the sponsor required a liver biopsy. I had the biopsy in May 2018 and it confirmed stage 3 fibrosis. The biopsy went well and other than some aching along my ribs for a couple of days, I did not have any side effects from it. I have to have a 2nd biopsy at the end of the trial (which is a little over a year long) and I’m not worrying about it now that I’ve had a biopsy that went well.