There are many tests to assess liver function and to know the nature of its disease.
Biochemical Tests: These tests are used in:
· Differential diagnosis of jaundice
· To detect liver cell damage in other disorders, and
· To monitor the results of surgery of the biliary system and pancreas. These include urinary urobilin, plasma bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, a serum aminotransferases, plasma proteins, plasma prothrombin and sulphobromophthalein excretion test, etc.
Isotope Scan: The radioactive material injected intravenouly is particularly concentrated in the liver, and can be seen on the television by the gamma camera and also be photographed. The abnormal part of the liver does not take it up and thus shows absence of activity over there. The test lakes about one hour to complete.
Liver cancers and other diseases can thus be detected and demarcated by this procedure.
Ultrasound Scan: A probe emitting ultrasonic pulses is passed across the liver and surrounding areas. Echoes detected from within the patient are received amplified and suitably displayed.
CT Scan: Computerized tomography can be used to produce cross-sectional images of the liver, and is of value in detecting and demarcating lesions over there.
Liver Biopsy: This is taken by inserting a special needle through the anaesthesized skin over the liver area on the right side of the upper abdomen. The patient is asked to breathe out and then to hold the breath, so that when the needle is In the liver, it is not moving about with respiration.
Blood of the patient is tested before the biopsy is taken In order to see that there is no bleeding tendency in the patient and no risk of bleeding from the liver puncture site.
The piece of liver taken into the hollow needle or the liver cells present in it, are spread on a glass slide, fixed, stained and examined for histological picture and diagnosis of the disease.