A liver biopsy is the best way to know the amount of hepatitis and liver damage (including cirrhosis and fibrosis) as well as a patient's prognosis. Ask your doctor for more information on the liver biopsy process and new options to potentially replace the liver biopsy.

A skin biopsy is the best diagnostic technique for many cutaneous lesions that cannot be diagnosed visually. This procedure implies the excisional removal of a small part of tissue including the epidermis (the top skin layer), the dermis, and, variably, underlying fat. This is usually done in local anesthesia, which means the patient gets an injection which will keep away the pain. After the removal of a small piece of skin, the wound is closed with a few stitches.

The risk of a liver biopsy is minimal. The primary risk is bleeding from the site of needle entry into the liver, although this occurs in less than 1% of patients. Other possible complications include the puncture of other organs, such as the kidney, lung or colon. Biopsy, by mistake, of the gallbladder rather than the liver may be associated with leakage of bile into the abdominal cavity, causing peritonitis. Fortunately, the risk of death from liver biopsy is extremely low, ranging from 0.

A liver biopsy could determine the activity of one of several enzymes in question. It might be used to make a firm diagnosis in suspected cases of von Gierke's Disease or Pompe's Disease. However, a liver biopsy is an invasive procedure and should only be performed when a definite diagnosis cannot be made by other methods.

unhealthy liver is the cause of numerous chronic illnesses and disorders. It is one of the most neglected and disregarding organs in our body. And yet, it is vital in the process of protecting us from the toxins we are confronted with everyday. It is also a required component in the efforts to maintain a healthy weight. For anybody who is trying to lose weight, a healthy, balanced liver is a must. Liver Cleanse, with its Advanced Enzyme Technology, will help.

Although a recent mammogram may show an abnormality in your breast, only a biopsy can determine if that abnormality is cancerous or benign (noncancerous). Four out of five women will find they have a benign condition. Usually, it means tissue is removed for examination. This is the only way to determine if an abnormal tissue is cancerous or benign.

Carcinoid syndrome requires one or more of the following for laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis: increased blood serotonin with decreased blood tryptophan, increased chromogranin A and increased urine 5HIAA or indole-3-acetic acid . In spite of the symptoms, if these criteria are not present, carcinoid syndrome is not the diagnosis.

There are no definitive diagnostic tests for Autism. The soundest means of determining diagnosis is a thorough review of the child's developmental history and observation of their behavior in structured and unstructured situations. The diagnostic tools most often turned to by pediatricians who are the front line of noting developmental problems, are the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD).

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HHC), or iron overload, is an inherited disorder that causes the body to absorb two to three times the normal amount of iron. Over the years, the excess iron builds up in the vital organs, joints and tissues where it can cause a number of debilitating and potentially fatal conditions such as liver and heart disease, diabetes, impotence and arthritis.

You don't need to be tested to see if you have started perimenopause or reached menopause. You and your doctor will most likely be able to tell based on irregular periods and other symptoms. If you have heavy, irregular periods, your doctor may want to do tests to rule out a serious cause of the bleeding. Heavy bleeding may be a normal sign of perimenopause. But it can also be caused by infection, disease, or a pregnancy problem. You may not need to see your doctor about menopause symptoms.

The liver is located in the right upper quadrant (RUQ) under the rib cage. The biopsy is an outpatient procedure where the rib space and the surrounding tissue is anesthetized, and a special needle is placed into the liver to obtain specimens for assessment. The liver biopsy allows accurate "staging of the severity of disease", through assessment of inflammatory activity, and the degree of scarring or fibrosis.

This is a very common procedure done in the office to evaluate abnormal bleeding. It obtains tissue from the inside of the uterus (endometrium). It is very quick and you may feel a deep cramp. You may have some mild cramping and spotting for 24 hours after. It is never performed during pregnancy. We now are able to also perform endometrial ablations in the comfort of our office under local anesthesia thus avoiding the need for hospitalization and general anesthetic.

MRI provides an excellent look inside the body but several diseases can have a similar appearance (e.g. tumors and abscesses). Determining the type of cells present within a lesion by obtaining a very small sample with a small needle allows us to make a final differentiation in most cases. We strongly recommend ultrasound-guided needle biopsies when we need to know the type of cells present to obtain a final diagnosis.