TY - JOUR T1 - Noninvasive tests for liver disease, fibrosis, and cirrhosis: Is liver biopsy obsolete? JF - Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine JO - Cleve Clin J Med SP - 519 LP - 527 DO - 10.3949/ccjm.77a.09138 VL - 77 IS - 8 AU - Emily Carey AU - William D. Carey Y1 - 2010/08/01 UR - http://www.ccjm.org/content/77/8/519.abstract N2 - Liver biopsy has been used to diagnose chronic liver disease and to assess the degree of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. However, it is an invasive test with many possible complications and the potential for sampling error. Noninvasive tests are increasingly precise in identifying the cause of many cases of liver disease and even the amount of liver injury (fibrosis). This review discusses the role of noninvasive tests to diagnose liver disease and to assess hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. ER -