What's better fibrous an or liver biopsy?

[FingHb]

My doctor told me if my alt is still up and depending on the blood work (hbsag, etc test) results before my April test, he might want to do a liver biopsy.  

With the reading here, fibroscan seems to good, and researched some on the Internet.  I read from mercy hospital website, in my state, they have fibroscan, and usually cheaper than the biopsy.  Which one is better in your opinion to see what condition my liver is at.  Does fibroscan offer more something over liver biopsy or does liver biopsy still better?  Any thoughts or opinions???? Thx!!!!!

[stef2011]

a small section potrays the entire liver status coz the liver is affected uniformly throughout

no its all the opposite biopsy is not accurate at all because the liver damage is all different, one part can be cirrhotic and the tiny piece from biopsy mild firbosis

fibroscan is the most accurate and the only way to monitor fibrosis increase or improvement

biopsy is the only one to see inflammation, fatty liver and fibrosis separately.when one patient have all these different diseases biopsy can tell if damage is from hbv infection or from food

[flyinsky]

Do fibroscan if the doc doubt about result do biopsy .most of us did it at least once.could I know your alat and hbvdba levels?

[Jatashankar]

if u can bear a lil pain for some time then biopsy states the most accurate status of ur liver.. a small section potrays the entire liver status coz the liver is affected uniformly throughout and not in a portion by hbv unlike a cyst or tumor. ppl must undergo a biopsy for once atleast. However disadvantage of discomfort is always there but the results are at par.

[chihep]

I would prefer Fibroscan because biopsy is more invasive, might have complication such as bleeding specially pt who has low platelet count. I would not say Fibrosure is good but my Fibroscan and Fibrosure results are matched. Fibrosure is just blood test for 6 biochemicals and use algorithm to calculate the stage of fibrosis. It is acceptable in USA and non invasive.

[hepbcurepls]

fibroscan is less invasive and measures stiffness of liver. biopsy measures 1 section or piece of liver that they take a sample from.  i cant remember which research i read from but fibroscan accuracy vs biopsy accuracy was + - 5% . Dont quote the exact number from me, its just something I remembered. I would never get a biopsy unless I really really have to. Im for fibroscan 100%. Why would I make myself suffer through a needle going through my skin to liver when I can just get a machine to take sounds from my liver. the only time i would get a biopsy would be for cancer reasons, but MRI pretty much tells it all anyways. In my family history of hep b my mother , uncles and I have never had a biopsy and they have been on treatment since lam and hepesara days. Even when my uncle was diagnosed with hcc they gave him a option of biopsy to make sure or chemoembolization, he said screw the biopsy lets just do the chemoemobilization.