How is cirrhosis of the liver diagnosed?

How is cirrhosis of the liver diagnosed?

  • Physical exam : During a physical exam, your doctor can observe how your liver feels or how large it is (a cirrhotic liver is bumpy and irregular instead of smooth).
  • Blood tests : If your doctor suspects cirrhosis, you will be given blood tests to check for liver disease.
  • Other tests : In some cases, other tests that take pictures of the liver are performed, such as a computerized tomography (CT) scan or an ultrasound.
  • Biopsy : Your doctor may decide to confirm the diagnosis by taking a sample of tissue (biopsy) from the liver.
  • Surgery : In some cases, cirrhosis is diagnosed during surgery when the doctor is able to see the entire liver. The liver also can be inspected through a laparoscope, a viewing device that is inserted through a tiny incision (cut) in the abdomen.