The role of liver biopsy in the evaluation of liver test abnormalities.

Percutaneous liver biopsy, first performed by Paul Ehrlich in 1883, remains an important diagnostic procedure for the management of hepatobiliary disorders. Modern biochemical, immunologic, and radiographic techniques have facilitated the diagnosis of liver disease but have not made biopsy obsolete. Indeed, examination of liver histology remains the "gold standard" for many diagnoses. This article reviews current indications for liver biopsy and the role biopsy plays in managing a variety of disorders.