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Alternative Methods for Liver Biopsy: Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided and Transjugular Liver Biopsy

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Essentials of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

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Abstract

Liver biopsy is part of the standard workup of patients with both acute and chronic liver diseases and has long been considered the golden standard for the positive diagnosis of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis. Conventional transabdominal liver biopsy has been embraced by many as the standard technique; nevertheless, alternative methods for liver biopsy have been developed among which endoscopic ultrasound-guided and transjugular liver biopsy are the best known. Transjugular liver biopsy is most frequently indicated in patients with diffuse liver disease and contraindications to the conventional transabdominal approach. It is regarded as a relatively simple technique, with an efficacy comparable to that of percutaneous biopsy. It is well tolerated and has relatively few contraindications. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy offers a more targeted approach, and thus is indicated particularly for focal lesions, as it provides a higher diagnostic accuracy. As it allows bilobar sampling, it may increase diagnostic accuracy especially in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This chapter presents main indications, contraindications, and adverse events, as well as several technical aspects related to both endoscopic ultrasound-guided and transjugular liver biopsy techniques.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Gastroenterology Department, Iasi, Romania

    Catalin Victor Sfarti, Stefan Chiriac & Gheorghe G. Balan

  2. St. Spiridon Emergency Hospital, Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Iasi, Romania

    Catalin Victor Sfarti, Stefan Chiriac & Gheorghe G. Balan

Authors
  1. Catalin Victor Sfarti
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  2. Stefan Chiriac
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  3. Gheorghe G. Balan
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania

    Anca Trifan

  2. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania

    Carol Stanciu

  3. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania

    Cristina Muzica

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Sfarti, C.V., Chiriac, S., Balan, G.G. (2023). Alternative Methods for Liver Biopsy: Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided and Transjugular Liver Biopsy. In: Trifan, A., Stanciu, C., Muzica, C. (eds) Essentials of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-33548-8_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-33548-8_7

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