Percutaneous biopsy of operable liver lesions: is it necessary or advisable?
OBJECTIVE
The necessity and desirability of performing percutaneous biopsy of potentially resectable liver tumours is called into question.


METHODS
Two cases are reported in which percutaneous biopsy of resectable liver tumours was performed unnecessarily and resulted in needle track seeding.


RESULTS
In both instances patients who underwent potentially curative liver resection were rendered incurable because of biopsy track recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
The common practice of performing percutaneous ultrasound or CT guided biopsy of potentially resectable lesions in the liver is generally neither necessary nor desirable.
Jourdan
J L
JL
Wakefield Clinic for Gastrointestinal Diseases, Wellington.
Stubbs
R S
RS
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000209:etiology*; D009366:Neoplasm Seeding; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000556:secondary; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed