PERCUTANEOUS BIOPSY OF LIVER-TUMORS WITH COLOR DOPPLER US GUIDANCE

Background: Percutaneous liver biopsy is a well-established procedure. Aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of color Doppler ultrasound (US) for guiding percutaneous biopsy of liver tumors in pat ients at high risk of bleeding. Methods: Forty-seven patients with sev ere, uncorrectable coagulopathy (platelet count <50 x 10(9)/L and/or p rothrombin time ratio [normal/patient] <50%) were submitted to percuta neous biopsy of focal Liver lesions using a 21 G cutting needle. The p rocedure was guided by color Doppler US, avoiding the needle cross int o any liver or tumor vessel. Results: Biopsy material was adequate for pathological reading in 46/47 cases (97.9%). No major post-biopsy com plication was observed. In particular, no case of hemoperitoneum was d etected on US examinations performed 2 hours after biopsy. Minor compl ications (including one subcapsular hematoma) occurred in 4 patients ( 8.5%). Conclusions: Color Doppler US can safely guide percutaneous liv er biopsy in patients at high-risk of bleeding.