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Texas Liver Tumor Center
4502 Medical Drive210-743-4306
Transplant Clinic, Rio Tower, Level 2
San Antonio,TX 78229
Liver Testing & Diagnosis
When it comes to diagnosing liver disease, there is a wide range of tests and imaging you may go through.
Liver Blood Tests
One way to test for liver disease is through blood work. Your liver expert will likely order a hepatic panel which measures enzymes, proteins and other substances made or processed by the liver. These tests help diagnose and monitor liver damage or disease, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis, by looking at patterns of abnormality.
Common tests include alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, albumin and total protein, prothrombin time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR).
Liver Imaging
Depending on your liver condition, the liver expert may order multiple imaging tests. These images can detect liver conditions, including noncancerous and cancerous tumors.
- Ultrasound
- Elastography (FibroScan)
- Computed tomography (CT) scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE)
- Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)
Liver Biopsy
A liver biopsy is a procedure your specialist would order if your lab results and imaging are inconclusive or show irregular results.
By getting a sample of liver tissue, your care team can determine how damaged your liver may be and what is causing the damage.
