Introduction

A variety of diagnostic tests can help doctors assess disorders of the liver, gallbladder, and biliary tract. Among the most important are a group of blood tests known as liver function tests. The term is misleading, however, since liver function tests do not really test the function of the liver. Rather, liver function tests indicate inflammation of or damage to the liver.

Depending on the suspected problem, a doctor may also order certain imaging tests, such as ultrasound scanning, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Also, a doctor may take a sample of liver tissue for examination under a microscope, a procedure called a liver biopsy.

See the sidebar Liver Function Tests.