Ultrasound-guided Percutaneous Biopsy Research Articles

Comparative Assessment of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Biopsies vs. Percutaneous Biopsies of Pancreatic Lesions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Diagnostic Performance

Comparative Assessment of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Biopsies vs. Percutaneous Biopsies of Pancreatic Lesions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Diagnostic Performance

Abstract PO2-07-12: Analysis Of Malignity Rates Of Percutaneous Biopsy In Lymph Nodes Of Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract BACKGROUND: The evaluation of regional lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer is one of the main predictive and prognostic factors for treatment. The methods of percutaneous biopsies of suspicious lymph nodes frequently used are fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNA) and core needle biopsy (CORE). According to the international literature, CORE and FNA are considered diagnostic methods with high specificity (98% vs. 99%), however, the FNA may present up to 21% of inconclusive results by insufficient material. Although CORE is well established as a percutaneous method for diagnostic evaluation of suspected breast lesions, the literature is scarce on the use of this technique for the evaluation of suspicious lymph nodes in breast cancer patients. OBJECTIVE: Analyze the positivity of FNA and CORE performed in suspicious lymph nodes for breast cancer metastasis according to the anatomical location of biopsies and the type of needle used, verifying which technique was preferred. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted by evaluating the database of patients treated in a public hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Women submitted to ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy of lymph nodes from May 2015 to November 2019 were included in the study. The data were analyzed using IBM-SPSS version 27 and Microsoft EXCEL version 2010. RESULTS: A total of 499 biopsies were performed and the mean age of the women was 54.2 years (SD± 11.9) in the CORE group and 53.4 years (SD± 11.8) in the FNA group (p=0.619). According to the anatomical location, 385 were axillary (77.2%), 62 supraclavicular (12.4%), 48 cervical (9.6%) and 4 infraclavicular (0.8%). Regarding the type of needle, 393 were CORE (78.8%) and 106 were FNA (21.2%). When analyzing the results of the FNA, 38 (35.8%) did not present enough material, 31 (29.2%) were positive, 32 (30.2%) were negative and 5 (4.8%) showed atypical cells. Among the 393 CORE performed, 255 (64.9%) were positive, 132 (33.6%) were negative, 1 (0.3%) showed atypical cells and 5 (1.3%) had no representative material. No complications were reported after the procedures. CONCLUSION: CORE was the preferred diagnostic technique in our center, being considered a feasible procedure to evaluate lymph nodes in different sites and with low rates of inconclusive results by insufficient material. In the future, studies evaluating indirect costs may confirm the feasibility of CORE in patients with suspicious lymph nodes in terms of obtaining greater agility and resolutive conducts in the public healthcare system. Citation Format: Marina Diogenes, Andressa Amorim, ANDRE MATTAR, MARCELO ANTONINI, Luiz Henrique Gebrim, REGINALDO COELHO LOPES, Luciana Damous. Analysis Of Malignity Rates Of Percutaneous Biopsy In Lymph Nodes Of Breast Cancer Patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO2-07-12.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Ultrasound Guided Percutaneous Pleural Needle Biopsy for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma.

Background/Objectives: Ultrasound (US) has been progressively spreading as the most useful technique for guiding biopsies and fine-needle aspirations that are performed percutaneously. Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) represents the most common malignant pleural tumour. Thoracoscopy represents the gold standard for diagnosis, although conditions hampering such diagnostic approach often coexist. The Objective was to determine whether ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle biopsy (US-PPNB) has a high diagnostic accuracy and represents a safe option for diagnosis of MPM. Methods: US-PPNB of pleural lesions suspected for MPM in patients admitted from January 2021 to June 2023 have been retrospectively analyzed. An 18-gauge semi-automatic spring-loaded biopsy system (Medax Velox 2®) was used by experienced pneumologists. The obtained specimens were histologically evaluated and defined as adequate or non-adequate for diagnosis according to whether the material was considered appropriate or not for immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis. The primary objective of the study was the diagnostic yield for a tissue diagnosis. Results: US-PPNB was diagnostic of MPM in 15 out of 18 patients (sensitivity: 83.39%; specificity: 100%; PPV: 100%). Three patients with non-adequate US-PPNB underwent thoracoscopy for diagnosis. We found significant differences in terms of mean pleural lesion thickness between patients with adequate and not-adequate biopsy (15.4 mm (SD: 9.19 mm) and 3.77 mm (SD: 0.60 mm), p < 0.0010. In addition, a significant positive correlation has been observed between diagnostic accuracy and FDG-PET avidity value. Conclusions: US-PPNB performed by a pneumologist represents a valid procedure with a high diagnostic yield and accuracy for the diagnosis of MPM, and may be considered as an alternative option in patients who are not suitable for thoracoscopy.

Comparative analysis of ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy of native kidneys in children and adults using the free-flank supine antero-lateral decubitus positioning.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy (USPB) of the native kidneys is the preferred diagnostic method for several nephrological conditions in both adult and pediatric populations. Conventionally, native kidney biopsies are conducted with patients in the prone position (PP). However, an alternative approach involving the supine oblique antero-lateral position (SALP) has been explored, particularly for individuals who are obese, elderly, or critically ill. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and outcomes of USPB performed in SALP with a Free-Flank setting (FF-SALP) in pediatric patients (Group A) compared to adults (Group B). Data from kidney biopsies conducted between 2008 and 2021 were gathered. The study focused on the safety and the prevalence of biopsy samples containing a minimum of 10 glomeruli, histopathological yield in both groups. Complication rates were low in both groups (5.6% vs. 3.7%; p = 0.454), without major complications noted. The pediatric group achieved a significantly higher mean number of glomeruli per biopsy compared to the adult group (20.6 ± 12.3 vs. 15.7 ± 9.4; p < 0.001). However, when evaluating the minimum threshold of 10 glomeruli (76.3% vs. 68.5%; p = 0.072) and histopathologic yield (95.3% vs. 93.5%; p = 0.408), no differences were observed between groups. USPB of native kidneys in the FF-SALP position is a safe and effective method for tissue sampling in patients with parenchymal disease. It demonstrated comparable diagnostic yields and complication rates in the pediatric and adult populations, providing advantages in terms of airway management, making it particularly useful for pediatric patients that require general anesthesia.

Initial investigation on ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy of lesions in the first hepatic hilum with fusion of ultrasound and multimodal imaging cognitive guidance.

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy of the first hepatic hilum lesion, and examine its clinical value of diagnosis and treatment. We conducted a retrospective study on patients diagnosed with the first hepatic hilum lesions at Fujian Provincial Hospital between February 2015 and October 2022. We selected patients who had lesions in the first hepatic hilum(including a 2cm surrounding area of the left/right hepatic ducts and upper-middle segment of the common bile duct) and the liver periphery(in the peripheral area of the liver, outside of the above-mentioned first hepatic porta region). These patients underwent percutaneous ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy (PUS-CNB) with cognitive fusion guidance using CT, MRI, or PET-CT. We compared the safety and efficacy of PUS-CNB in the first hepatic hilum and the liver periphery to explore the value of PUS-CNB in optimizing the clinical treatment of the first hepatic hilum lesions. The studied includes 38 cases of the first hepatic hilum cases (18 females; 20 males), 23 presented with mass-forming tumors while the remaining 15 exhibited diffuse infiltrative tumors, with an average diameter of 4.65± 2.51 cm. The percutaneous biopsy procedure, conducted under ultrasound guidance, had an average operation time of 14.55 ± 2.73 minutes, and resulted in a postoperative bleeding volume of approximately 10.79 ± 2.79 ml. The diagnostic success rate was noted to be as high as 92.11% among the participants who underwent percutaneous biopsy of the first hepatic hilum. Procedural complications, such as bleeding, bile leakage, intestinal perforation, infection or needle tract seeding, did not occur during or after the biopsy procedure. Affected by biopsy results, 5 altered their clinical treatment plans accordingly, 24patients received non-surgical treatment, 9 underwent surgical treatment, 5 underwent radiofrequency ablation for the lesions. The study comprised a total of 112 cases for percutaneous biopsy of the liver periphery. The safety and effectiveness of the two biopsy techniques were comparable, with diagnostic success rates of 92.11% VS. 94.34%, respectively (p = 0.61). Cognitive fusion of ultrasound and multi-modal imaging for the first hepatic hilum lesion puncture biopsy is a safe and effective diagnostic procedure, with better diagnostic rate, may improve clinical value of diagnosis and treatment of various diseases.

Highest 3-month international normalized ratio (INR): a predictor of bleeding following ultrasound-guided liver biopsy.

To determine whether international normalized ratio (INR), bilirubin, and creatinine predict bleeding risk following percutaneous liver biopsy. A total of 870 consecutive patients (age 53 ± 14years; 53% (459/870) male) undergoing non-targeted, ultrasound-guided, percutaneous liver biopsy at a single tertiary center from 01/2016 to 12/2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression models to evaluate the relationship between individual and combined laboratory values, and post-biopsy bleeding risk. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under ROC (AUC) curves were constructed to evaluate predictive ability. Post-biopsy bleeding occurred in 2.0% (17/870) of patients, with 0.8% (7/870) requiring intervention. The highest INR within 3months preceding biopsy demonstrated the best predictive ability for post-biopsy bleeding and was superior to the most recent INR (AUC = 0.79 vs 0.61, p = 0.003). Total bilirubin is an independent predictor of bleeding (AUC = 0.73) and better than the most recent INR (0.61). Multivariate regression analysis of the highest INR and total bilirubin together yielded no improvement in predictive performance compared to INR alone (0.80 vs 0.79). The MELD score calculated using the highest INR (AUC = 0.79) and most recent INR (AUC = 0.74) were similar in their predictive performance. Creatinine is a poor predictor of bleeding (AUC = 0.61). Threshold analyses demonstrate an INR of > 1.8 to have the highest predictive accuracy for bleeding. The highest INR in 3months preceding ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsy is associated with, and a better predictor for, post-procedural bleeding than the most recent INR and should be considered in patient risk stratification. Despite correction of coagulopathic indices, the highest international normalized ratio within the 3months preceding percutaneous liver biopsy is associated with, and a better predictor for, bleeding and should considered in clinical decision-making and determining biopsy approach. • Bleeding occurred in 2% of patients following ultrasound-guided liver biopsy, and was non-trivial in 41% of those patients who needed additional intervention and had an associated 23% 30-day mortality rate. • The highest INR within 3months preceding biopsy (AUC = 0.79) is a better predictor of bleeding than the most recent INR (AUC = 0.61). • The MELD score is associated with post-procedural bleeding, but with variable predictive performance largely driven by its individual laboratory components.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy for focal liver lesions: Adverse events and diagnostic yield in a single-centre analysis.

Ultrasound-guided biopsy of focal liver lesions (FLL) is a well-established procedure with crucial impact on therapeutic decisions. The safety and accuracy depend on needle type, tumour location and comorbidities. Modern oncological concepts often require large tumour specimens which may increase the procedural risk. We retrospectively collected data from consecutively scheduled ultrasound-guided FLL biopsies performed in an interdisciplinary ultrasound unit at a university hospital from 2015-2020. We analysed complication rates, diagnostic accuracy, and patient outcome in a one-year period. Of 426 scheduled interventions, 339 were included: 322 primary biopsies (40% female, median age 65 years, median BMI 25.4 kg/m2) and 17 rebiopsies in cases with undetermined diagnosis. Indications comprised 309 (96%) cases with suspected malignant lesions. Important comorbidities were type 2 diabetes (n = 107, 33%) and cirrhosis (n = 64, 20%). A conclusive histopathological diagnosis was achieved in 270 (84%) cases with a weak association with lesion size (OR 1.12 per cm, 95%CI 0.99-1.27). Greater BMI (OR 0.60 per 10 BMI points, 95%CI 0.34-1.05) showed a trend towards an insufficient diagnosis. Relevant complications occurred in 8 (2.5%) cases (2 major; 1 life-threatening). Multiple passes showed a trend towards adverse events (OR 2.32 for > 1 pass, 95%CI 0.99-5.42). 93 (29%) patients died during a median follow-up of 171 days. Ultrasound-guided FLL biopsy is an efficient and safe diagnostic measure. The limitations of the procedure and its associated risks should be considered in patients with advanced malignancies.

Sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation (SANT) of the spleen can be safely diagnosed by a core percutaneous ultrasound-guided biopsy.

Sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation (SANT) is a rare benign lesion of the spleen. SANT cannot be distinguished from other benign or malignant splenic tumors based on imaging findings. So, diagnosis relies on histopathologic examination. Although splenectomy is frequently considered as an option, core needle biopsy tissue analysis is safe and accurate to avoid surgery.

Using ultrasound guided needle biopsy in conjunction with GeneXpert MTB/RIF to diagnose epididymal tuberculosis

This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic utility of percutaneous ultrasound-guided needle biopsy conjunction with GeneXpert MTB/RIF for epididymal tuberculosis. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the pathological and laboratory examinations of 20 patients with epididymal lesions undergoing ultrasound guided biopsy at Shandong Public Health Clinical Center. Laboratory examination included acid-fast staining, Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture by BACTEC MGIT 960, and GeneXpert MTB/RIF test. Diagnosis and complications were comprehensively analyzed. Among the 20 patients, 15 had epididymal tuberculosis and 5 had non-epididymal tuberculosis. Ten patients had granulomatous inflammation and necrotic tissues. The sensitivity and specificity of acid-fast staining, Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture, and GeneXpert MTB/RIF for the diagnosis of epididymis tuberculosis were 26.67% and 100.00%, 33.33% and 100.00%, and 86.67% and 100.00%, respectively. The diagnostic value analysis of the 3 detection techniques indicated that the GeneXpert MTB/RIF technique (Kappa = 0.765, Area under the curve (AUC) = 0.933) was superior to Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture (Kappa = 0.200, AUC = 0.667) and acid-fast staining (Kappa = 0.154, AUC = 0.633). Ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy is a safe procedure. The GeneXpert MTB/RIF test has high sensitivity, specificity, and superior AUC value, which are of great value in the diagnosis of epididymal tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance detection.

Quick, Safe, Effective: Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Liver Biopsy in the Pediatric Patient

BackgroundPercutaneous liver biopsy has proven to be a valuable tool in the workup of pediatric acute liver failure and the management of post-transplant rejection. However, consensus regarding pre-procedure laboratory values and post-procedure monitoring is lacking.ObjectiveTo characterize the incidence of complications, procedural time, and specimen adequacy for percutaneous liver biopsy in the pediatric patient.MethodsRetrospective review of percutaneous liver biopsies at a single institution was performed for a 5-year span. Procedural notes and anesthesia records were sampled for patient weight and procedural factors across a continuous 6-month period, as well as for the subgroup of patients under 24 months of age. A representative continuous subset of pathology reports comprising 376 patients were reviewed for estimation of specimen adequacy.ResultsEight hundred and sixty-seven ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsies were performed in a 5-year period, 450 of which were in the post-transplant setting with about a 3:1 ratio of split: whole liver transplant. Patient ages ranged from 1 month to 21 years old, with weight ranging from 2.7 to 125 kg. Of the 376 pathology reports available, none were found to be inadequate for evaluation. Two major complications occurred, both of which were biliary leaks in the setting split-liver transplant. There were no incidences of post-procedure hemorrhage. Of the sample reviewed, mean “skin-to-skin” procedure time was under 8.5 min (median of 7 min). Solely among transplant patients, biopsies for split livers averaged 9.2 min, biopsies for whole livers averaged 6.2 min (two-tailed independent t test, p = 0.0426).ConclusionUltrasound guided percutaneous liver biopsy is fast, useful, and safe in pediatric patients on an outpatient basis with same day discharge.Level of Evidence IVThis journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Analysis of hemorrhage upon ultrasound-guided percutaneous renal biopsy in China: a retrospective study

PurposeUltrasound-guided percutaneous renal biopsy (PRB) has been considered as a golden standard for CKD diagnosis and is employed to identify potential therapeutic targets since 1950s. Post-biopsy hemorrhage is the most common complication, while severe bleeding complication might cause nephrectomy or death. Therefore, how to reduce the occurrence of complications while ensuring the success of PRB is always a clinical research topic.MethodsThis study retrospectively collected and established a renal biopsy database of each patient who underwent ultrasound-guided PRB at a tertiary teaching hospital from September 2017 to December 2020 through the Health Information System. All the data were statistically processed by SPSS software.ResultsA total of 1146 patients underwent PRB for various reasons. The overall rate of post-biopsy hemorrhage was 37.70% (432/1146). Of those bleedings, minor bleeding after PRB was found in 337 (29.41%), middle bleeding 84 (7.33%), major bleeding 11 (0.96%). Besides that, there were 96 patients (8.38%) reported their discomfort symptoms. There was no death. Females were at significantly increased risk of hemorrhagic complication than males (OR = 2.017, CI = 1.531–2.658). While the risk for hemorrhagic complication significantly decreased as BMI and platelet before renal biopsy increased (OR = 0.956, CI = 0.924–0.989; OR = 0.998, CI = 0.996–1.000). As the APTT time prolonged, the risk for hemorrhagic complication significantly increased (OR = 1.072, CI = 1.023–1.123). Those patients whose albumin were higher, also had higher risk for hemorrhagic complication than other patients (OR = 1.020, CI = 1.000–1.041). Specifically, postoperative urination within 4 h increased the risk for hemorrhagic complication (OR = 1.741, CI = 1.176–2.576).ConclusionOur analysis finds that the incidence of post-biopsy bleeding complication is 37.70%, and its risk is associated with female, lower BMI, lower platelet before renal biopsy, prolonged APTT, higher albumin, and postoperative urination within 4 h. The findings highlighted the importance of perioperative management for renal biopsy, including adequate risk assessment, tailored careful observation after PRB. And medical staff should pay more attention to fluid management after ultrasound-guided PRB.

Bedside Method to Check the Adequacy of Kidney Biopsy Sample with a Smartphone Camera and Macro Lenses: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract Introduction: The utilization of smartphone-assisted evaluation is emerging in the field of histopathology. This technique improves the adequacy of samples at the bedside, avoids procedure-related complications, reduces unnecessary repeat biopsies, and saves the cost of the procedure. This study aims to compare the number of glomeruli in a renal biopsy specimen obtained by an ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle biopsy, counted at the bedside using a smartphone fitted with a 16-megapixel macro lens (Bedside method) with that observed under a light microscope after the processing of the biopsy specimen (LM method). Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 24 consecutive adult patients (48 kidney biopsy samples) who underwent kidney biopsies were enrolled. All specimens were extracted by an ultrasound-guided percutaneous renal biopsy from the lower pole of the left kidney. Patients’ demographics and clinical data were prospectively collected. The number of glomeruli in all the biopsy specimens was counted using a smartphone fitted with a 16-megapixel macro lens at the bedside (Bedside method) and subsequently under a light microscope by a pathologist after processing the biopsy specimen (LM method). Seven or more glomeruli in the specimen were considered adequate in our study. Results: The mean age of patients at biopsy was 46.9 ± 16 years with slightly male predominance (54.2%). A total of 47 specimens were obtained from 24 patients. Of the 24 patients, 22 had native kidney biopsy and 2 had renal allograft biopsy. The average number of cores obtained per patient was 1.96. The length of core specimens ranged from 1.5 to 2 cm. A good agreement was found between bedside adequacy and slide adequacy, κ =0.684, P = 0.000. The positive agreement rate and negative agreement rate were 91.4% and 23.1%, respectively. Conclusion: In the modern era of technology, the smartphone is a good tool to evaluate the adequacy of biopsy specimens at the bedside.

Is the Predicted Skin-to-Kidney Distance by Analytical Method Useful? A Correlation and Association with Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Kidney Biopsy

Is the Predicted Skin-to-Kidney Distance by Analytical Method Useful? A Correlation and Association with Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Kidney Biopsy

S1368 A Retrospective Review of Outcomes and Complications of Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Liver Biopsies Performed at a Large Gastroenterology Fellowship Program

S1368 A Retrospective Review of Outcomes and Complications of Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Liver Biopsies Performed at a Large Gastroenterology Fellowship Program

Role of Desmopressin Acetate before Percutaneous Ultrasound-Guided Kidney Biopsy in Patients with Kidney Dysfunction

Abstract Introduction: The most common complication of percutaneous kidney biopsy is bleeding, which can be seen in up to one-third of cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of prebiopsy administration of intranasal desmopressin acetate in reducing the incidence of biopsy-related bleeding complications. Methods: This was a prospective randomized double-blind pilot study conducted at our center from January 2021 to September 2022. Consecutive adult patients who underwent native percutaneous kidney biopsy with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≤45 ml/min/1.73 m2 were randomized into a placebo (saline intranasal spray) group versus intranasal desmopressin group. The bleeding complications were compared between the two groups. Results: A total of 80 patients who underwent kidney biopsy at our center from January 2021 to September 2022 with eGFR ≤45 ml/min/1.73 m2 were included (40 patients in desmopressin group and 40 patients in non-desmopressin group) in the study. The mean age of the patients was 44 ± 12 years with a mean eGFR of 20.82 ± 12.64 ml/min/1.73 m2. Intranasal desmopressin administration before kidney biopsy was associated with a significantly higher number of minor bleeding complications (P = 0.02) and no significant reduction in major complications (P = 0.15) when compared with a group that did not receive desmopressin. Other complications like hypotension, flushing, and vasovagal syncope were not statistically significantly associated with the use of desmopressin. Conclusions: Our study did not find any utility of prophylactic desmopressin use before kidney biopsy in patients with kidney dysfunction.

Rice body synovitis in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Rice bodies (RBs) synovitis in the shoulder joints of systemic lupus erythematosus patients is a rare clinical condition that has not been previously reported. Despite the fact that the diagnosis of RBs synovitis has primarily relied on MRI imaging, ultrasound has been used less frequently. In this report, we discuss a 43-year-old female diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus who presented with pain and swelling in the right shoulder. The ultrasound findings were typical, and the patient was diagnosed with RBs synovitis, as she had no history of tuberculosis or rheumatoid arthritis. Subsequently, the patient underwent ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy and surgical excision, which led to a good postoperative outcome. Based on this case, a literature review of RBs synovitis over the past 2 decades indicates that rice bodies synovitis is rare in clinical presentation accompanied by SLE. Moreover, ultrasound has not been extensively employed for diagnosing this condition. It is important to note the pivotal role of ultrasound in detecting RBs synovitis, and it should be the preferred method for early detection. Therefore, ultrasound physicians should be well informed about this condition to enhance diagnostic precision.

Glomeruli Count and Arterial Injury in Real-Time Ultrasound-Guided Needle Kidney Biopsy Specimens: Adequacy of Three Approaches for Pig Kidneys

Introduction: Real-time ultrasound-guided percutaneous kidney biopsy is essential for diagnosis and treatment planning; nonetheless, the optimal puncture approach has yet to be established. In vivo, performing different approaches on the same patient at once is not possible. This study aimed to determine the impact of different approaches on the number of obtained glomeruli and their potential to cause arterial injury using pig kidneys, which are similar to humans. Methods: A total of 120 pig kidneys (60 right-sided kidneys and 60 left-sided kidneys) for research were obtained from a slaughterhouse. The specimens were collected from the lower pole on the sagittal plane of the kidney using three different approaches on the same kidney: caudocranial approach, caudal to cranial; craniocaudal approach, cranial to caudal; and vertical approach, through the surface cortex. Five blinded pediatric nephrologists assessed the number of glomeruli and arterial injuries. Results: Overall, 360 specimens were collected from the kidneys through biopsy using a 16-gauge needle (mean vertical kidney length, 11.2 ± 0.7 cm; mean depth, 3.47 ± 0.23 cm). No significant difference in the incidence of arterial injury was observed between the three approaches (caudocranial vs. craniocaudal vs. vertical approaches: 78% vs. 87% vs. 87%, p = 0.14). In contrast, the vertical approach retrieved significantly more glomeruli than the caudocranial and craniocaudal approaches (caudocranial approach: 7.5 ± 2.8, craniocaudal approach: 7.8 ± 2.7, and vertical approach: 8.9 ± 3.3, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Considering its efficacy and safety profile, the vertical approach may be preferred, as more glomeruli can be obtained without increasing the incidence of arterial injury. Although the results cannot be directly extrapolated to humans due to the differences between species, they still offer important insights into the characteristics of each approach.

Performance of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Versus Percutaneous Liver Biopsy in Diagnosing Stage 3-4 Fibrosis.

Percutaneous liver biopsy (P-bx) is the gold standard for diagnosing advanced fibrosis. Despite the proven technical feasibility of EUS-guided liver bx (EUS-bx) as a novel alternative way of liver biopsy, the clinical applicability remains to be determined. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate if EUS-bx, compared to P-bx, can effectively and safely obtain adequate specimen and accurately predict hepatic fibrosis. This is a single center, retrospective chart review among patients with liver diseases at a tertiary endoscopy center from February 2011 to March 2020. We assessed the EUS-bx versus P-bx outcomes by success rate, performance, and safety profile. The primary outcome was the association between EUS-bx clinical variables and the presence of histologic liver fibrosis stage ≥ 3. The secondary outcomes were the associations between EUS-bx and variables indicative of fibrosis. Fifty-nine patients underwent EUS-bx; and 59, P-bx. All EUS-bx procedures were successfully completed. All 56/56 (100%) of EUS-bx vs. 50/52 (96.2%) P-bx were considered adequate samples. Tissue lengths were significantly longer in the EUS-bx cohort (p < 0.0001) with a trend towards a greater number of portal tracts. 46/56 (82.1%) cases of EUS-bx vs. 32/52 (61.5%) of P-bx had > 10 portal tracts; 21/56 (37.5%) cases of EUS-bx vs. 14/52 (26.9%) of P-bx had > 15 portal tracts. There were 6 (10.2%) EUS-bx vs. 1 (1.7%) P-bx relatedcomplication leading to a phone call (p = 0.061). EUS-bx can safely performed and accurately predict liver fibrosis stage as the standard P-bx without being influenced by procedure-related factors.

Major complications after ultrasound-guided liver biopsy: An annual audit of a Chinese tertiary-care teaching hospital.

As ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsy (PLB) has become a standard and important method in the management of liver disease in our country, a periodical audit of the major complications is needed. To determine the annual incidence of major complications following ultrasound-guided PLB and to identify variables that are significantly associated with an increased risk of major complications. A total of 1857 consecutive cases of PLB were included in our hospital from January 2021 to December 2021. The major complication rate and all-cause 30-d mortality rate were determined. Multivariate analyses were performed by logistic regression to investigate the risk factors associated with major complications and all-cause 30-d mortality following ultrasound-guided PLB. In this audit of 1857 liver biopsies, 10 cases (0.53%) of major complications occurred following ultrasound-guided PLB. The overall all-cause mortality rate at 30 d after PLB was 0.27% (5 cases). Two cases (0.11%) were attributed to major hemorrhage within 7 d after liver biopsy. Fibrinogen less than 2 g/L [odds ratio (OR): 17.226; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.647-112.102; P = 0.003], post-biopsy hemoglobin level (OR: 0.963; 95%CI: 0.942-0.985; P = 0.001), obstructive jaundice (OR: 6.698; 95%CI: 1.133-39.596; P = 0.036), application of anticoagulants/antiplatelet medications (OR: 24.078; 95%CI: 1.678-345.495; P = 0.019) and age (OR: 1.096; 95%CI: 1.012-1.187; P = 0.025) were statistically associated with the incidence of major complications after PLB. In conclusion, the results of this annual audit confirmed that ultrasound-guided PLB can be performed safely, with a major complication rate within the accepted range. Strict patient selection and peri-biopsy laboratory assessment are more important than procedural factors for optimizing the safety outcomes of this procedure.

Diagnostic Evaluation of Solid Pancreatic Lesions: Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration Versus Percutaneous Ultrasound-Guided Core Needle Biopsy.

The main objective of the present study is to compare the safety, technical success and diagnostic yield of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) versus ultrasound-guided percutaneous core-needle biopsy (US-CNB) in patients with solid pancreatic lesions. This is a retrospective study that involved all patients with a solid pancreatic lesion who underwent EUS-FNA or US-CNB between November 2019 and February 2021. Of all patients, 69 (84.1%) had inoperable malignancy, whereas 13 (15.9%) had chronic pancreatitis. Resectability status was ascertained by computed tomography. All core needle biopsies were performed by the same interventional radiologist via ultrasound guidance with an 18-gauge semi-automatic tru-cut needle. All EUS-FNA procedures were performed by the same gastroenterologist with a 27-gauge EUS-FNA needle. Technical success is defined as if the region of interest is reached and specimen taken from the pancreatic lesion. Diagnostic yield is defined as the procurement of sufficient tissue for pathological examination. Overall, 52 patients (mean age 58.5 ± 9.8years) who underwent EUS-FNA and 30 patients (60.1 ± 12.1years) who underwent US-CNB were included. Solid lesions were most commonly (61.5% in EUS-FNA and 50.0% in US-CNB groups) located in pancreatic head in both groups. Mean size of the lesions was comparable in both groups as well. The technical success was 100% in both groups. In 12 (14.6%) patients, pathology results revealed inadequate sampling (11 × in the EUS-FNA and 1 × in the US-CNB group). The diagnostic yield was significantly higher in US-CNB group than in EUS-FNA group (96.7% vs. 78.8%, respectively, p = 0.048). Of 11 patients in the EUS-FNA with inadequate sampling, pancreatic lesions were located in the pancreatic head in 7 (63.6%). No major complications were observed in neither of the groups. As a minor complication, one case of slight abdominal pain was detected in the EUS-FNA group. Based on the results of the present study, both US-CNB and EUS-FNA appeared safe; however, diagnostic yield in the US-CNB group was significantly higher.