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Copyright ©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng.
World J Gastroenterol. May 14, 2009; 15(18): 2190-2203
Published online May 14, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.2190
Table 2 Pros and Cons of liver biopsy in staging of hepatic fibrosis
PROSCONS
Staging of liver fibrosisInvasiveness (pain, bleeding)
Grade of necroinflammationCost (hospitalization)
Steatosis (common in hepatitis C)Sampling errors
Iron overload (common in hepatitis C)Possibly refused by patient, concern of physician
Comorbidities (autoimmunity stigmates)Static data, no information on fibrogenesis