What is A Laparoscopic Liver Biopsy?

Not every liver tumor needs a laparoscopic liver biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. However, in many circumstances, a diagnosis to confirm tumor type/subtype and guide further treatment cannot be made without tissue sampling. Percutaneous CT-guided or ultrasound-guided liver biopsy by an interventional radiologist is the most common way of obtaining a liver biopsy. When the liver tumor is located on the left side of the liver, an endoscopic liver biopsy can also be done as an alternative method.

A laparoscopic biopsy is needed in a small percentage of patients whose percutaneous or endoscopic liver biopsy fails to obtain an adequate tissue sample. Dr. Iswanto Sucandy performs liver biopsy laparoscopic via a single incision in the umbilicus as an outpatient procedure.

A laparoscopic liver biopsy procedure is also frequently performed to diagnose liver parenchymal abnormalities such as significant fatty liver condition, liver cirrhosis, and when a liver mass is found incidentally during an abdominal operation for other reasons. A larger piece of the liver specimen can also be sent for tumor genetic and molecular analyses.