title: Transjugular liver biopsy in liver transplant patients using an 18-gauge automated core biopsy needle.
abstract: Aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate accuracy and safety of transjugular liver biopsy using an 18-gauge automated core biopsy needle, in patients underwent liver transplantation. 183 consecutively transjugular liver biopsy were performed in 115 liver transplant patients. An 18-gauge automated core needle biopsy was used in all patients. Technical success was achieved in 182 procedures (99.5%). In one patient we were not able to obtain a liver sample. The mean number of passages was 1.43 (range 1-5). Mean number of fragments was 2 (range 1-12). Mean total length of the specimens was 1.7 cm (range 0.5-3.4 cm). The specimen was adequate for diagnosis in 172 (94.5%) cases and suboptimal or inadequate in 10 (4.5%). Suboptimal or inadequate samples were associated with higher number of passages (2.0 vs. 1.4, p<0.012), higher number of fragments (4.3 vs. 1.9, p<0.0001) and decreased total length of the specimens (0.99 vs. 1.73, p<0.03). As only complication one patient (0.5%) had a large perihepatic hematoma requiring blood transfusion. In conclusion using an 18-gauge automated core needle biopsy, in most liver transplant recipients, an accurate diagnosis can be obtained with one or two passages. This is associated with a low risk of complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology of Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies (IsMeTT), Palermo 90127, Via Tricomi 1, Italy. rmiraglia@ismett.edu
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miraglia
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maruzzelli
authors.forename: Marta Ida
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Minervini
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Volpes
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vizzini
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gruttadauria
authors.forename: Settimo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luca
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gridelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D055815:Young Adult