Liver Biopsy Research Paper

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Liver Biopsy- A biopsy is a procedure in which a small sample of liver tissue is taken and examined under a microscope. You may undergo this procedure if your physician suspects that you have liver damage as a result of chemotherapy. Looking at the tissue is the best way to determine if the cells are healthy or damaged. A CT scan creates a very sensitive, three-dimensional picture of your body. You will receive an injection containing a small amount of radioactive dye. The special camera can detect how the dye is taken up by different organs in the body, producing a picture that helps your doctor understand how your liver and spleen are functioning. 29, 30, 64, 65

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)- ERCP is a procedure which helps your physician determine whether your liver dysfunction is due to blockage of the common bile duct, the tube which carries bile from the liver to the gall bladder. ERCP uses an endoscope, a long, flexible, lighted tube that allows your physician to see the inside of the stomach and inject dyes, which make the biliary ducts visible on an x-ray. By combining these techniques—endoscope and x-ray—your physician can determine if there is blockage of the ducts. This may be the cause of your liver dysfunction. 33, 34, 66
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Liver damage can be a serious condition and you should notify your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:
 Jaundice: yellowing of the skin, whites of the eyes, mucous membranes (moist areas around eyes and mouth) due to high levels of billirubin in the extracellular