CT percutaneous biopsy guns: comparison of end-cut and side-notch devices in cadaveric specimens.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacies of four different types of end-cut biopsy guns with the side-notch Tru-cut biopsy gun.


METHODS
A total of 25 liver, 15 kidney, 10 pancreas, and 15 breast biopsies were performed in the tissue from five autopsies with each of 12 different biopsy devices/biopsy depths. The tissue obtained was evaluated by an experienced cytopathologist who, not knowing which gun was used to obtain each specimen, used a predetermined grading scheme.


RESULTS
When tissue was obtained, the end-cut biopsy guns performed equivalently to the side-notch biopsy gun in all four tissues. However, the end-cut guns had a significant number of "zero" biopsies (biopsy attempts during which no tissue was obtained). The proportion of zero biopsies with the end-cut guns ranged from up to 28% in the liver to 60% and 73% in the breast and kidney, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The end-cut biopsy guns are easy to use and potentially can obtain high-quality specimens. However, the rate of zero biopsies during which no tissue is obtained is a serious deficiency. As a result, the use of the end-cut biopsy gun should be encouraged only for use with an introducer, with which multiple biopsy specimens can easily be obtained without additional needle punctures.
Hopper
K D
KD
Department of Radiology, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey 17033.
Abendroth
C S
CS
Sturtz
K W
KW
Matthews
Y L
YL
Hartzel
J S
JS
Potok
P S
PS
D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D002102:Cadaver; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed