About Liver Disease Diagnosis

Liver disease can often be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms can be vague and easily confused with other health problems. Blood tests can look for the presence of liver inflammation or screen for antibodies or virus particles that might indicate a specific form of liver Disease. These tests are called Liver Tests. Liver Tests are used to guide the physician along with the history and physical examination, in the diagnosis and management of a number of liver diseases. A problem in relying on these biochemical tests is that they are indirect measurements from the blood, of what is happening in the liver. You may have to undergo a liver biopsy. A liver biopsy involves inserting a thin needle into your liver to remove a small piece of tissue which is then examined under a microscope. In some cases, imaging tests may be used to detect specific forms of liver disease or to determine the extent of scarring of the liver. These tests include ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). Blood tests used to assess the liver are known as liver function tests. They can detect enzymes in your blood that are normally only present if your liver has been damaged. Blood tests can also detect if you have low levels of certain substances, such as a protein called serum albumin, which is made by the liver. Low levels of serum albumin suggest that your liver is not functioning properly.