title: Benefits of 3D technique in guiding percutaneous retroperitoneal biopsies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to assess the usefulness and advantages of multiplanar reformations (MPR) during multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT)-guided percutaneous fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and core biopsy of retroperitoneal lesions that are difficult to access with the guidance of ultrasound and axial CT alone owing to overlying bony structures, large vessels or abdominal organs.
  
  
  METHODS
  MDCT-guided retroperitoneal FNAB and core biopsy was performed on 14 patients with suspected retroperitoneal neoplasm. We used MPR images (sagittal and coronal) obtained with a six-detector-row MDCT scanner and 20-22 gauge Chiba needles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using MDCT with 3D MPR allowed biological samples to be obtained in all cases (ten cytological and four histological) and diagnostic samples in 11/14 cases (78.5%). Histological samples were deemed adequate for diagnostic assessment in all cases and cytological samples in 7/10 cases (70%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MPR images allowed sampling of retroperitoneal lesions until now considered unreachable with the guidance of axial MDCT alone. Compared with the conventional procedure, the use of MPR images does not increase the procedure time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinic Sciences, Section of Radiological Sciences, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43100, Parma, Italy. massimo.defilippo@unipr.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Filippo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gira
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Corradi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sverzellati
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zompatori
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*