CT fluoroscopic guidance for percutaneous needle placement into abdominopelvic lesions with difficult access routes

Background: We wished to evaluate the utility of computed tomography fluoro scopy (CTF) for guiding percutaneous abdominopelvic biopsies or fluid aspir ations that are considered difficult with conventional computed tomographic (CT) guidance. Methods: CTF-guided percutaneous biopsy (n = 11) or fluid aspiration (n = 2 ) was attempted in 13 patients with lesions that were otherwise difficult o r potentially unsafe by conventional CT guidance because they were deep to colon, small intestine, or major blood vessels. Results: Using CTF assistance to guide external compression or needle posit ioning, appropriate needle placement was performed in 11 patients. Biopsy o r aspiration was diagnostic in 10 patients. Needle advancement was not atte mpted in two patients. Conclusion: CTF appears to be a valuable tool to dynamically assist percuta neous needle placement into lesions that may be considered difficult with s tandard CT assistance.