A liver biopsy is used to diagnose diseases of the liver such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, infections and cancer. It can also be used to examine a transplanted liver for signs of transplant rejection.

Liver biopsies are typically performed percutaneously by inserting a needle through the skin under ultrasound or CT guidance. The liver can also be biopsied via a catheter inserted through the jugular vein (a large neck vein). This is known as a trans jugular liver biopsy (TJLB). It is essential to have an expert liver pathologist interpret liver biopsies.