Is it possible to diagnose liver cirrhosis or liver cancer without a biopsy?

Yes and no: No need to have a liver biopsy to diagnose liver cirrhosis. Sono of liver or MRI liver will be able to tell you if you have liver cirrhosis. Not all liver cancer requires biopsy to establish a diagnosis. A very high level of Alpha feto protein-and evidence of liver mass which c/w primary liver cancer- are enough to make a diagnosis. If AFP is low or if suspicious for metastasis- biopsy is needed.

Yes and no: Cirrhosis is a histologic diagnosis but can made without a biopsy with almost certainty based on lab data, imaging studies and physical exam. Liver cancer (hcc) is also a histologic diagnosis, but in the setting of cirrhosis it can be made based on MRI or ct imaging criteria without a biopsy with >95% certainty.