Influence of operator experience on performance of ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsy.
The purpose was to evaluate the influence of radiologist's experience on the diagnostic yield and complications of a percutaneous liver biopsy (PLB) method. Six hundred patients underwent an ultrasound-guided PLB by an inexperienced operator in 25.2% of cases (experience of less than 15 percutaneous liver biopsies performed alone--group I) or by an experienced operator (experience of more than 150 percutaneous liver biopsies--group II). The two groups were well-matched with respect to sex, age, percentage with viral hepatitis without histological cirrhosis, number of needle passes, history of liver biopsy and pain before the biopsy. A histological diagnosis was available in 97.3% of cases without any significant difference between the two groups ( P=0.25). However, group II samples were significantly longer and contained more portal tracts ( P=0.01). Pain was mild immediately and 6 h after the biopsy, without significant difference between both groups. Eight vasovagal reactions (five in group II) and one arteriobiliary fistula (in group II) occurred. With the method of PLB used for this study, operator's experience did not influence either the final histological diagnosis or the degree of pain suffered.
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Hôpital Archet, 151 route de Saint Antoine de Ginestière, 06202 Nice, France. chevallier.@chu-nice.fr
Patrick
P
Chevallier
Frederic
F
Ruitort
Alban
A
Denys
Pascal
P
Staccini
Marie Christine
MC
Saint-Paul
Denis
D
Ouzan
Jean Paul
JP
Motamedi
Albert
A
Tran
Pierre
P
Schnyder
Jean Noël
JN
Bruneton
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000473:pathology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000473:pathology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011871:Radiology; D014463:Ultrasonography