Abstract
The technique of performing liver biopsy varies among physicians, even within the same practice. In an attempt to determine whether gastroenteroogists/hepatologists differ in their approach compared to radiologists, we surveyed a nearly equal number of physicians in the Washington, DC, USA, metropolitan area with respect to 26 variables. While the technique can vary considerably, relatively few differences were seen between the groups. Only about half of gastroenterologists and hepatologists use ultrasound guidance, a biopsy, gun, and conscious sedation; radiologists routinely used a biopsy gun and conscious sedation and rarely require an overnight stay.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Sherlock S, Dick R, van Leeuwen DJ: Liver biopsy today: The Royal Free Hospital experience. J Hepatol 1:75–85, 1985
Ali MR, Clarcke AC, Nicholson GI: Liver biopsy-an outpatient procedure. NZ Med J 88:237–238, 1978
Van Leeuwen DJ, Wilson L, Crowe DR: Liver biopsy in the mid-1990's: Questions and answers. Semin Liver Dis 15:340–359, 1995
Jacobs WH, Goldberg SB, Patient Care Committee of the American Gastroenterological Association: Statement on outpatient liver biopsy. Dig Dis Sci 34:322–323, 1989
Gilmore IT, Burroughs A, Murray-Lyon IM, Jenkins D, Hopkins A: Indications, methods and outcomes of percutaneous liver biopsy in England and Wales: An audit by the British Society of Gastroenterology and the Royal College of Physicians of London. Gut 36:437–441, 1995
Menghini G: One-second needle biopsy of the liver. Gastroenterology 35:190, 1958
Garcia-Tsao G, Boyer JL: Outpatient liver biopsy: How safe is it? Ann Intern Med 118:150–153, 1993
Frank H, Leodolter I: Prakitsche erfahrungen mit der ambulanten leberbiopsie. Wien Klin Wochenschr 78:756–768, 1966
Knauer CM: Percutaneous biopsy of the liver as a procedure for outpatients. Gastroenterology 74:101–102, 1978
Janes CH, Lindor KD: Outcomes of patients admitted with complications after outpatient liver biopsy. Ann Intern Med 118:96–98, 1993
Perrrault J, McGill DB, Ott BJ, Taylor WF: Liver Biopsy: Complications in 1000 inpatients and outpatients. Gastroenterology 74:103–106, 1978
McGill DB, Rakela J, Zinsmeister AR, Ott BJ: A 21-year experience with major hemorrhage after percutaneous liver biopsy. Gastroenterology 99:1396–1400, 990
Bateson MC, Hopwood D, Duguid HLD, Bouchier IAD: A comparative trial of liver biopsy needles. J Clin Pathol 33:131–133, 1980
Hegarty JE, Williams R. Liver biopsy: Technique, clinical applications and complications. Br Med J 288:1254–1256, 1984
Caturelli E, Giacobbe A, Facciorusso D, Bisceglia M, Villani MR, Siena DA, Fusilli S, Squillante MM, Andriulli A: Percutaneous biopsy in diffuse liver disease: Increasing diagnostic yield and decreasing complication rate by routine ultrasound assessment of puncture site. Am J Gastroenterol 91:1318–1321, 1996
Schwerk WB, Schmitz-Moorman P: Ultrasonically guided fineneedle biopsies in neoplastic liver disease. Cancer 48:1469–1477, 1981
Rasmussen SN, Holm HH, Kristensen JK, Barlebo H: Ultrasonically-guided liver biopsy. Br Med J 2:500–502, 1972
Lindor KD, Bru C, Jorgensen RA, Rakela J, Bordas JM, Rodes J, McGill DB, Reading CC, James EM, Charboneaus JM: The role of ultrasonography and automatic-needle biopsy in outpatient percutaneous liver biopsy. Hepatology 23(5):1079–1083, 1996
Stotland BR, Lichtenstein GR: Live biopsy complications and routine ultrasound. Am J Gastroenterol 91:1295–1296, 1996
Younossi ZM, Teran C, Ganiats T, Carey W: Ultrasoundguided liver biopsy for parenchymal liver disease. An economic analysis. Dig Dis Sci 43:46–50, 1998
Pasha T, Sherine G, Therneau T, Dickson ER, Lindor KD: Cost-effectiveness of ultrasound-guided liver biopsy. Hepatology 27(5):1120–1126, 1998
Farrell RJ, Smiddy PF, Pilkington RM, Tobin AA, Mooney EE, Temperley IJ, McDonald GS, Bowmer HA, Wilson GF
Keileher D: Guided versus blind liver biopsy for chronic hepatitis C: Clinical benefits and costs. J Hepatol 30(4)580–587, 1999
Riley TR III: How often does ultrasound marking change the liver biopsy site? Am J Gastroenterol 94:3320–3322, 1999
Ewe K: Bleeding after liver biopsy does not correlate with indices of peripheral coagulation. Dig Dis Sci 26:388–393, 1981
Gupta R, Druy EM, Kessler M: Safety and potential usefulness of liver biopsy in HIV-seropositive haemophiliacs employing a transjugular venous approach. Haemophilia 3:210–214, 1997
Lewis JH, Mayoral W, Marino G, Sallout H, Carroll J, Sharma A: Percutaneous liver biopsy (PLB) with or without ultrasound guidance (USG): Is there a difference in outcome? Gastroenterology 116(4):A74, 1999
Rosson RR, Corral J, Jaski T: Outpatient liver biopsy. JAMA 222(3):364, 1972 (letter)
Westaby D, Macdougall BRD, Williams R: Liver biopsy as a day-case procedure: Selection and complications in 200 consecutive patients. Br Med J 281:1331–1332, 1980
Colombo M, Del Ninno E, de Franchis R, De Fazio C, Festorazzi S, Ronchi G, Tommasini MA: Ultrasoundassisted percutaneous liver biopsy: Superiority of the Tru-Cut needle over the Menghini needle for diagnosis of cirrhosis. Gastroenterology 95:487–489, 1988
Larson AM, Chan G, Wartelle CF, McVicar JP, Carithers RL Jr, Hamill GM, Kowdley KV: Infection complicating percutaneous liver biopsy in liver transplant recipients. Hepatology 26(6):1406–1409, 1997
Mayoral W, Lewis JH, Tombazzi C, Marino G, Strader D: Cost-effective analysis of percutaneous liver biopy with or without ultrasound guidance: Results and outcomes. Am J Gastroenterol 95: (abstract) 2000 (in press)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mayoral, W., Lewis, J.H. Percutaneous Liver Biopsy. Dig Dis Sci 46, 118–127 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005665910159
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005665910159