Comparison of safety and accuracy of ultrasound-guided versus ultrasound-assisted biopsy with 18- or 16-gauge needle in diffuse liver diseases

Ultrasound (US) guide is commonly used for focal hepatic lesions but not for diffuse liver disease biopsy. We compared safety of procedure and adequacy of specimen for histologic evaluation of diffuse liver disease by using US-assisted 16 gauges (USA16) or US-guided 18 G (USG18) needle biopsies. A prospective study was undertaken over one year period, from September 2006 to September 2007. USA16 needle biopsy was performed in 50 patients (M/F 30/20; median age 45y; range 28–72) (group A), instead USG18 needle biopsy was used in 40 patients (M/F 23/17; median age 50y; range 26–71) (group B). The most common indic…