Abdominal percutaneous interventional procedures: comparison of CT and US guidance.
OBJECTIVE
To compare ultrasound (US) with computed tomography (CT) as a guidance modality for percutaneous interventional procedures.


METHODS
A database of abdominal interventional procedures was reviewed for the 6 months preceding and 6 months after the opening of a dedicated US interventional suite. Changes in the number and type of procedures performed, room time, number of needle passes, and complication rates were calculated.


RESULTS
In the first 6 months, 305 interventional procedures (138 tissue biopsies and 167 fluid aspirations) were performed (CT guidance in 87% [n = 120] and 95% [n = 159], respectively). In the 6 months after installation of the suite, 395 procedures (195 tissue biopsies and 200 fluid aspirations) were performed (US guidance in 76% [n = 148] and 34% [n = 67], respectively). The largest increase in US utilization was for guidance of tissue biopsies, rising from 6% (18 of 305) to 37% (148 of 395) of all procedures. Room time was significantly less for US-guided procedures (mean US room time, 77 minutes +/- 33 [1 standard deviation]; mean CT room time, 99 minutes +/- 38; P < .0001).


CONCLUSIONS
US guidance often allows performance of quicker, more accurate procedures than does CT guidance, probably because of its real-time capabilities.
Sheafor
D H
DH
Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Paulson
E K
EK
Simmons
C M
CM
DeLong
D M
DM
Nelson
R C
RC
D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009339:Needles; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013396:Suction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data