Cirrhosis of the Liver

Diagnosis

People with early-stage cirrhosis of the liver usually don't have symptoms. Often, cirrhosis is first detected through a routine blood test or checkup. Mayo Clinic specialists are alert to these early signs of liver cirrhosis.

Mayo specialists use these tests to diagnose cirrhosis of the liver:

• Laboratory tests. Your blood is checked for certain enzymes and excess bilirubin, a substance that may indicate liver damage.
• Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). This noninvasive advanced imaging test, developed at Mayo Clinic, detects hardening of the liver.
• CT, MRI and ultrasound.
• Biopsy. A tissue sample (biopsy) may be taken to identify the severity and extent of liver damage. Mayo Clinic has pathologists who specialize in examining liver biopsies.

Read more about ultrasound, MRI scan and CT scan at MayoClinic.com.