title: Transjugular liver biopsy: results of 97 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of transjugular liver biopsy in patients with contraindicated percutaneous biopsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between June 2005 and April 2010, 97 patients who were admitted for transjugular liver biopsy were enrolled in this retrospective study. All liver biopsies were obtained using an 18 gauge Quick-Core liver biopsy set through the right hepatic vein via the internal jugular vein. Clinical indication, histopathological diagnosis, and complications were noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Primary technical success was achieved in 93 (95.8%) patients. Hepatic veins could not be catheterized and opacified in two patients and in the remaining two patients the veins could be opacified and catheterized but we were not able to pass the biopsy needle into the hepatic vein because of the acute angle between the inferior vena cava and hepatic veins. At least two specimens were obtained from each patient. The most frequent histopathological diagnosis was cirrhosis. A subcutaneous hematoma around the puncture side was encountered in one patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transjugular liver biopsy is a feasible and effective alternative in patients with contraindication for percutaneous biopsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Gevher Nesibe Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Halil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dönmez
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Gevher Nesibe Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Güven
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kahriman
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Gevher Nesibe Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nevzat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ozcan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Gevher Nesibe Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ertuğrul
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mavili
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Gevher Nesibe Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Deniz
keywords: Transjugular liver biopsy; liver biopsy; liver cirrhosis