Contraindications for percutaneous needle biopsy:
(1) bleeding disorder
(1a) bleeding time > 10 minutes;
(1b) prothrombin time > 3 seconds above the control despite receipt of intravenous vitamin K;
(1c) hemophilia if Factor 8 unavailable)
(1d) thrombocytopenia, with platelet count <= 50,000 per µL
(2) severe anemia
(3) peritonitis
(4) subphrenic effusion or abscess
(5) right pleural effusion or empyema
(6) marked ascites
(7) high grade biliary obstruction
(8) uncooperative or hypermobile patient despite sedation
(9) blood for transfusion unavailable
(10) possible hemangioma or vascular tumor
(11) inability to identify an appropriate site to biopsy by percussion or ultrasonography
(12) suspected echinococcal cysts in the liver
(13) morbid obesity
Contraindication to transjugular liver biopsy:
(1) serious cardiac arrhythmia triggered by catheter passage
Contraindications to laparoscopic liver biopsy:
(1) severe cardiopulmonary failure
(2) intestinal obstruction
(3) bacterial peritonitis
(4) large ventral hernia
