Abstract
Liver biopsies are obtained as a diagnostic measure to either evaluate diffuse liver diseases or focal liver processes. Since liver biopsy, despite technical improvements, is not without risk for the patient1, its indication has to be made carefully in a proper clinical context. The information obtained following liver biopsy has to have an impact on the therapeutic decision (therapy planning, prognosis assessment)2 and cannot be achieved by an easier, cheaper, or less invasive procedure. Thus the application of liver biopsy is subjected to changes in diagnostic algorithms, therapeutic options, and disease management.
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Flechtenmacher, C., Longerich, T., Schirmacher, P. (2008). Do we still need liver biopsies?. In: Ferkolj, I., Gangl, A., Galle, P.R., Vucelic, B. (eds) Pathogenesis and Clinical Practice in Gastroenterology. Falk Symposium, vol 160. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8767-7_13
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8767-7_13
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