Tumor implantation from needle biopsy of hepatic metastases.
Two patients with resectable secondaries in the liver developed needle track recurrence following intraoperative "Trucut"-needle biopsy and percutaneous thin needle aspiration cytology, respectively. In both cases the nature of the hepatic lesion was already clear before biopsy, from characteristic ultrasound, CT-scan, and a progressive rise in CEA levels. Although the overall risk is presumably low, biopsy must not become a diagnostic imperative. It may compromise definitive surgery in individual patients, and should therefore be restricted to situations in which results have a therapeutic or scientific impact.
Scheele
J
J
Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Erlangen, FRG.
Altendorf-Hofmann
A
A
D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009366:Neoplasm Seeding; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*