Sonographically guided percutaneous biopsy of gastrointestinal tract lesions.
OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to evaluate the role and safety of sonographically guided percutaneous biopsy in the diagnosis of digestive tract lesions when the lesions are not suitable to biopsy by endoscopy and safely reachable by sonography.


METHODS
We performed 42 biopsies in 41 patients (age range, 14-81 years; mean age, 57.5 years). We performed biopsies with real-time sonographic guidance using graded compression, with a 3.5-5-MHz microconvex transducer. In 39 biopsies, core specimens were obtained with an 18-gauge automatic needle gun; fine-needle aspiration biopsy was obtained in 28 patients with a 22-gauge needle and in the other four patients with a 21-gauge needle. In the remaining three patients, a coaxial technique with 20- and 22-gauge needles for cytology was used.


RESULTS
In 40 (95.2%) of 42 core biopsies performed, a specific diagnosis was obtained. A positive diagnosis was obtained in 16 (45.7%) of 35 fine-needle aspirations. The lesions were located from the pharynx to the sigmoid colon. Twenty-eight patients had malignant lesions, and 13 had benign lesions. Only one serious complication, bile peritonitis, was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Percutaneous biopsy with sonographic guidance can be used safely and efficiently to diagnose digestive tract lesions that can be visualized on sonography and are not accessible endoscopically.
Marco-Doménech
S F
SF
Department of Radiology, Hospital General de Castellón, Avda. de Benicasim, s/n, 12004, Castellón, Spain.
Gil-Sánchez
S
S
Fernández-García
P
P
De La Iglesia-Carreña
P
P
Gonzalez-Añón
M
M
Arenas-Jimenez
J J
JJ
Alonso-Charterina
S
S
Piqueras-Olmeda
R M
RM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects; D004064:Digestive System / Q000473:pathology*; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010614:Pharynx / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional