title: Fine needle trucut biopsy of focal liver lesions: a new technique.
abstract: A series of 77 ultrasound guided biopsies were performed in 72 patients with an ultrasonographically diagnosed focal liver lesion using a new semiautomated biopsy gun (Temno Biopty Gun) with a 21 G trucut needle. The rate of insufficient sampling was very low (1.5%), and more precise identification of malignant as well as benign lesions was possible when compared with the results of other fine-needle techniques available in the literature. No higher complication rate was noted. Our results show a sensitivity of 88%, a specificity of 100%, and an overall accuracy of 91% in identifying malignancy. Therefore we conclude that fine-needle trucut biopsy is a safe and accurate procedure combining the safety of the fine needle with the better sample quality of a large-bore needle biopsy technique.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, University Hospital of Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Duysburgh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Michielsen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fierens
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Marck
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pelckmans
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography