Percutaneous biopsy in the abdomen and pelvis: a step-by-step approach

Percutaneous image-guided mesenteric biopsy: how we do it in a high-volume training center

Lesions in the mesentery are unique from other potential biopsy targets in the abdomen or pelvis for several reasons. Mesenteric lesions are among the deepest in the abdomen and are often surrounded by or adjacent to small bowel or colon. Mesenteric vasculature is often crowded, and traversing the mesentery often involves crossing multiple vascular planes. Mesenteric lesions and the structures surrounding them within the peritoneal cavity are often highly mobile. All these features can be daunting to any radiologist asked to perform a mesenteric biopsy. We provide a comprehensive overview and guide to percutaneous mesenteric biopsy informed by available literature and experience at two high volume teaching centers. Topics covered include the pitfalls of using prior imaging to determine whether mesenteric biopsy is possible, techniques specific to US or CT-guidance and complications including hemorrhage and bowel injury.

Association of preablation tumor biopsy and long-term outcomes of colorectal liver oligometastases

OBJECTIVE

To explore the association of preablation liver biopsy and long-term oncological outcomes in colorectal liver oligometastases (CLOM) (lesions, ≤5; diameter, <5cm).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included 149 patients who underwent percutaneous liver biopsy before microwave ablation and 259 patients who did not receive preablation biopsy between September 2009 and June 2023 from two tertiary hospitals. Primary outcome, intrahepatic recurrence-free survival (IRFS), and secondary outcomes, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier methods. Propensity score matching (PSM) and four sensitivity analyses were performed to mitigate confounding. Multivariable analyses and adjusted subgroup analyses were performed to assess the correlation of intrahepatic recurrence with preablation biopsy.

RESULTS

408 patients were analyzed, with 149 patients (mean age, 58 years ± 10, 105 men [70.5 %]) in the biopsy group and 259 patients (mean age, 58 years ±± 11, 186 men [71.8 %]) in the non-biopsy group. There were no statistically significant differences for 5-years IRFS (HR = 1.14 [95 % CI: 0.82-1.58]; P = 0.450), 5-years DFS (HR = 1.23 [95 % CI: 0.93-1.62]; P = 0.147), and 5-years OS (HR = 1.45 [95 % CI 0.97-2.16]; P = 0.071) between groups after PSM (n = 100). The above results were consistent with those before PSM and four sensitivity analyses. For IRFS, multivariable analyses identified that preablation liver biopsy was not an independent risk factor and did not increase the risk of intrahepatic recurrence in any subgroup based on adjusted subgroup analyses.

CONCLUSION

Preablation liver biopsy has no significant adverse effects on intrahepatic recurrence, disease progression, or patient survival in colorectal liver oligometastases, regardless of covariate adjustments. Our study provides evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and management of CLOM; liver biopsy should not be banned without consideration in the era of precision medicine.

Model-Based Needle Identification Using Image Analysis and Needle Library Matching for Ultrasound-Guided Kidney Biopsy: A Feasibility Study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the work described here was to determine the feasibility of using a novel biopsy needle detection technique that achieves high sensitivity and specificity in a trade-off of resolution, detectability and depth of imaging.

METHODS

The proposed needle detection method consists of a model-based image analysis, temporal needle projection and needle library matching: (i) Image analysis was formulated under the signal decomposition framework; (ii) temporal projection converted the time-resolved needle dynamics into a single image of the desired needle; and (iii) the enhanced needle structure was spatially refined by matching a long, straight linear object in the needle library. The efficacy was examined with respect to different needle visibility.

RESULTS

Our method effectively eliminated confounding effects of the background tissue artifacts more robustly than conventional methods, thus improving needle visibility even with the low contrast between the needle and tissue. The improvement in needle structure further resulted in an improvement in estimation performance for the trajectory angle and tip position.

CONCLUSION

Our three-step needle detection method can reliably detect needle position without the need for external devices, increasing the needle conspicuity and reducing motion sensitivity.

Ultrasound-guided biopsy of challenging abdominopelvic targets

Percutaneous ultrasound-guided biopsies have become the standard of practice for tissue diagnosis in the abdomen and pelvis for many sites including liver, kidney, abdominal wall, and peripheral nodal stations. Additional targets may appear difficult or impossible to safely biopsy by ultrasound due to interposed bowel loops/vasculature, deep positioning, association with the bowel, or concern for poor visibility; however, by optimizing technique, it is often possible to safely and efficiently use real-time ultrasound guidance for sampling targets that normally would be considered only appropriate for CT guided or surgical/endoscopic biopsy.

What's in a node? The clinical and radiologic significance of Virchow's node

In 1848, Rudolf Ludwig Karl Virchow described an association of left supraclavicular lymphadenopathy with abdominal malignancy. The left supraclavicular lymph node later became commonly referred to as Virchow's node. Charles-Emile Troisier went on to describe the physical exam finding of an enlarged left supraclavicular lymph node, later termed Troisier's sign. Subsequent studies confirmed a predilection of abdominal and pelvic malignancies to preferentially metastasize to the left supraclavicular node. Identification of a pathologically enlarged left supraclavicular node raises the suspicion for abdominopelvic malignancy, particularly in the absence of right supraclavicular lymphadenopathy, and provides a safe and easy target for biopsy. Supraclavicular lymph nodes also represent a great target for diagnosis of metastatic thoracic malignancies, although thoracic malignancies can involve either right or left supraclavicular nodes and do not show a predilection for either. This article presents a review of the history, anatomy, pathophysiology, clinical significance, radiological appearance, and biopsy of Virchow's node. Key points are illustrated with relevant cases.

Long-term experience with percutaneous biopsies of pelvic lesions using CT guidance

To evaluate the accuracy, efficiency, complication rate, technical features, and relations among followed parameters of CT-guided percutaneous biopsies of the pelvic lesions. 140 biopsies in 136 patients for tumors, sizes 17-160 mm in largest diameter, were carried out in patients with probable tumorous pelvic process within ten years period. The patients were women in 77 cases and men in 59 cases, aged 21 to 87 years. The lesions´ size varied from 17 mm to 160 mm in largest diameter. In 135 biopsies (96.4%) results were true positive or true negative; only 5 procedures (3.6%) were histologically false negative and had to be verified surgically. Metastatic affection was the most common diagnosis (26.4%). Lymphomas were diagnosed in 25%; serous adenocarcinoma of ovary or uterine tube was verified in 15.7% of cases. Totally 7 complications (5%) were confirmed, all were minor hemorrhages. A statistically significant relation between the complication rate and hypervascular character (p = 0.00004), and between needle gauge and histological accuracy (p = 0.00429) was revealed. Core needle biopsy using percutaneous approach and CT guidance had a high overall accuracy in determining the final histological diagnosis including subtyping. Concurrently, the complication incidence was low.

Impact of risk factors on the efficacy and complications of ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsy of space-occupying lesions

INTRODUCTION

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsy is considered the technique of choice for the histological diagnosis of space-occupying lesions, given its high level of safety and diagnostic performance. However, since it is an invasive diagnostic procedure, complications can occur. Various clinical and radiological parameters have been analyzed as factors related with the efficacy of the technique or with its complications; however, the results have been contradictory. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the impact of various risk factors on the efficacy and complications of ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsy in the diagnosis of space-occupying lesions in ordinary clinical practice.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This retrospective observational study included all patients who underwent real-time ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsies of space-occupying liver lesions with the free-hand technique between December 2012 and February 2018 in the diagnostic imaging department at the Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela. We analyzed the following risk factors: location of the lesion in upper liver segments (II, IVa, VII, or VIII); proximity to the liver capsule, distance from the skin > 100mm, interposition of osseus or vascular structures, inability to go through healthy parenchyma, and lack of patient cooperation during the procedure. Efficacy was analyzed in terms of the number of cylinders obtained and the percentage of adequate biopsies; safety was analyzed in terms of the percentage of complications, which were classified as major or minor.

RESULTS

We included 295 biopsies in 278 patients (median age, 69 years; 64.1% male; 44.7% had prior neoplasms). In 61.4%, the biopsy was indicated for the initial diagnosis; 82.4% of biopsies were done in hospitalized patients, and 65% of the lesions were located in the right liver lobe. The median number of cylinders obtained was 3 (range 1-6); 91.2% of the biopsies were adequate and 92.2% were considered clinically useful. These percentages did not differ significantly according to the presence of risk factors. Complications occurred in 10 (3.4%) patients. Complications were considered major in 3 (0.9%) patients (2 (0.6%) bleeding complications and 1 (0.3%) infectious complication) and minor in 7 (2.4%). The percentage of complications was significantly higher in patients who did not cooperate during the procedure (p=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsy is an efficacious and safe technique for the histological diagnosis of space-occupying liver lesions. Our results confirm the increased rate of complications when patients fail to cooperate during the procedure.

Risk of needle tract seeding after coaxial ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy for primary and metastatic tumors of the liver: report of a single institution

Purpose

The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of needle track seeding after ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy of indeterminate liver lesions with a coaxial biopsy system without any other additional intervention or ablation therapy.

Methods

We identified 172 patients in a retrospective cohort study who underwent ultrasound-guided biopsy due to a liver mass in our institution between 2007 and 2016. The same coaxial biopsy system was used in all patients, no consecutive ablation was performed.

Results

None of the finally included 131 patients developed neoplastic seeding. There was one major complication (0.76%), the rest of the complications were minor (3.8%) and did not require further intervention.

Conclusion

Needle track seeding is a rare delayed complication after percutaneous liver biopsy. Coaxial liver biopsy is a safe method to obtain multiple samples with a single punch in patients with primary or metastatic liver lesions.

Biopsy of Deep Pelvic and Abdominal Targets With Ultrasound Guidance: Efficacy of Compression

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of compression of tissues with the ultrasound transducer in decreasing distance to the biopsy target and establishing a safe percutaneous biopsy route to deep abdominopelvic targets. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Ultrasound-guided biopsies of nonsolid organ abdominopelvic targets performed from 2006 to 2017 were reviewed. Skin-to-target distance was measured on preprocedure CT scans for reference standard and on procedure ultrasound images for actual real-time distance after compression. The skin-to-target CT distance groupings were 0-3 cm, 3-6 cm, 6-10, cm, and > 10 cm. Deep targets were defined as > 6 cm. Differences in skin-to-target distance between static CT and compression ultrasound were calculated. Body mass index, procedure details, diagnostic yield, and complication rate were recorded. RESULTS. The biopsies of 389 patients (167 men, 222 women; mean age, 62.4 years; mean body mass index, 28.2) were assessed. Skin-to-target distance was 0-3 cm in 108 patients, 3-6 cm in 163 patients, 6-10 cm in 99 patients, and > 10 cm in 19 patients. A total of 118 deep targets were identified. The mean skin-to-target distance in the entire cohort was 5.0 cm on CT scans and 3.6 cm on ultrasound images with a 10% mean decrease in distance with ultrasound compression. For skin-to-target distances of 6-10 cm, distance decreased 39% at ultrasound, and for skin-to-target distances > 10 cm, distance decreased 48%. Thirty-three patients (8.5%) had no safe identifiable path for CT biopsy, most commonly because of intervening bowel, displacement of which at ultrasound allowed a safe biopsy trajectory. Ultrasound-guided biopsy had a diagnostic yield of 91.5% and a favorable safety profile. The complication rate was 1.3%. CONCLUSION. Application of compression with the ultrasound transducer decreased skin-to-target distance 40% or more for deep targets in addition to displacing bowel and establishing a safe path for biopsy in approximately 8.5% of cases.

Percutaneous needle biopsy of retroperitoneal lesions: technical developments

Percutaneous Needle Biopsy (PNB) is the insertion of a needle into a suspected lesion or an organ with the aim to obtain cells or tissue for diagnosis. It’s a relatively non-invasive procedure and is performed by radiologist under guidance of imaging techniques such as ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), fluoroscopy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography CT (PET-CT). The choice of imaging technique depends on the evaluation of the target lesion and patient compliance. PNB includes two categories: fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) that is the use of a thin needle (18-25 gauge) to extract cells for cytological evaluation; and core needle biopsy (CNB) that is the use of a larger needle (9-20 gauge) to extract a piece of tissue for histological evaluation. The indications for biopsy are the characterization of nature (benign or malignant) of a lesion, diagnosis and staging of tumor, and biological or immunohistochemical/genetic analisys on tissue. Success of PNB is the procurement of sufficient material to characterize lesions and to guide the patient outcome. Major complications are rare. PNB became a useful technique in diagnosis and study of retroperitoneal lesions, because of a more suitable access to specific intra-abdominal structures, lowering the risk of injury of interposed structures (such as bowel, great vessels). (www.actabiomedica.it)