Two cases of lethal complications following ultrasound-guided percutaneous fine-needle biopsy of the liver.
Two cases with lethal complications are reported among 1750 ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous fine-needle liver biopsies performed in our department. The first patient had angiosarcoma of the liver which was not suspected after computed tomography (CT) and US studies had been performed. The other patient had hepatocellular carcinoma in advanced hepatic cirrhosis. Death was due to bleeding in both cases. Pre-procedure laboratory tests did not reveal the existence of major bleeding disorders in either case. Normal liver tissue was interposed in the needle track between the liver capsule and the lesions which were targeted.
Drinković
I
I
Department of Radiology, Ultrasonic Center, Medical School of the University of Zagreb, University Hospital "Merkur," Zajceva 19, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Brkljacić
B
B
D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012769:Shock / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000009:adverse effects*