Symptoms of Liver Damage

15. Diagnosis and management

Diagnosis of liver disease begins with a physical exam and a thorough health history. The doctor will likely order blood labs called liver function tests to determine the extent of the damage, and they may do a biopsy by obtaining a tissue sample of the liver with a long needle and sending it to a lab for testing. Imaging, like a CT scan or MRI, may also be required. Finding the extent of liver damage and its cause determines treatment; generally, the earlier problems are detected, the better.

Treatment varies. Some liver problems can be treated with lifestyle changes, like not drinking alcohol or losing weight. Others will require surgery or medication and, in cases of liver failure, a liver transplant.