Digestive Disorders Health Center

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Imaging tests can check for tumors and blocked bile ducts and can be used to evaluate liver size and blood flow through the liver. These tests include:

• Abdominal ultrasound.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen (including the liver, gallbladder, and spleen).
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the abdomen.
• Liver and spleen scan (rarely done).

Other tests

Other tests also may be done to confirm a diagnosis of cirrhosis or to look for possible complications. These include:

• Liver biopsy, the only test that can directly confirm a diagnosis of cirrhosis. Examination of liver tissue also may reveal signs of inflammation. A liver biopsy may be done by inserting a needle between two of the right lower ribs to remove a sample of liver tissue. The tissue sample is then analyzed.
• Paracentesis, to help diagnose the cause of fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity (ascites) or to detect infection in the abdominal fluid (spontaneous bacterial peritonitis). Paracentesis is a procedure in which a needle is inserted through the abdominal wall to remove fluid from the abdominal cavity. The fluid can then be analyzed.
• Endoscopy, to look for enlarged veins (varices) in the digestive tract that could cause variceal bleeding. Endoscopy allows a doctor to examine the inside of organs, canals, and cavities in the body using a thin, flexible, lighted viewing instrument called an endoscope.
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram (ERCP), to look inside the tubes (bile ducts) that drain the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. ERCP may be done if your doctor thinks a condition called primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) might be leading to your liver problems.
• Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) testing, to screen for cancer of the liver (hepatocellular carcinoma). This is a blood test.
• Ammonia testing, to look for excess ammonia in the blood, which can cause altered brain function (encephalopathy).