Ontario Hepatitis Treatment

Role of liver biopsy

Although liver biopsy is often recommended it is not always necessary. A liver biopsy may be performed to determine severity of disease. This information might be necessary to determine whether a patient can defer treatment. If the biopsy shows mild disease deferring treatment for a few years will not have adverse consequences. A biopsy might be performed in patients who have had disease of more than 20 years standing to determine whether cirrhosis might be present.
Biopsy may be performed if another liver disease, in addition to hepatitis C is suspected, most often alcoholic liver disease or non alcoholic fatty liver disease.