| Sumario: | Liver biopsies have been used for the histological assessment for liver disease for the last century and are considered the 'gold standard'; however, they are not without risk or complication. Advances in technology have lead to the development of several non-invasive markers for the assessment of the severity of liver fibrosis which is deemed as the primary hallmark of disease progression. In this article, Suzanne Sargent and Elizabeth Farrington provide an overview of percutaneous liver biopsy, the indications, contraindications, pre- and post-biopsy care, complications, and the role of the advanced nurse practitioner. A brief overview of serum and non-invasive markers of liver fibrosis is also provided.
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