ULTRASOUND-GUIDED FINE-NEEDLE CUTTING BIOPSY FOR THE CHARACTERIZATIONOF DIFFUSE LIVER-DISEASES IN BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANT PATIENTS

Liver disease is a frequent complication in bone marrow transplant rec ipients and may occur early or late in the past-transplant period. Usi ng ultrasound-guided fine needle (1.2 mm, 18 G) cutting biopsy, we stu died six patients with undefined late post-BMT liver disease. No proce dure-related complications occurred and all liver biopsies were inform ative, leading to changes in therapeutic approach. In our small series , the most frequent cause of hepatic damage was drug toxicity. US-guid ed fine needle cutting biopsy is a useful and easy tool for the work-u p of unexplained post-BMT liver disease.