How Is Cirrhosis of the Liver Diagnosed?
Cirrhosis of the liver is diagnosed through several methods: • Physical exam. During a physical exam, your doctor can observe changes in 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 find out if liver disease is present. • Other tests. In some cases, other tests that take pictures of the liver are performed such as a computerized tomography (CT scan), an ultrasound, or another specialized procedure called a radioisotope liver/spleen scan. • 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 in the abdomen.
