Sonographically guided transhepatic core biopsies of right renal and adrenal masses: safety and short-term follow-up

US-Guided percutaneous core needle biopsy via the complete transhepatic approach: a reliable option for deep abdominal lesions

PURPOSE

To assess the feasibility, reliability, and diagnostic performance of ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous core needle biopsy (PCNB) performed via the complete transhepatic approach (CTHa) for abdominal lesions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study included 71 patients (31 males, 40 females) with a mean age of 64.8 ± 13.9 years (range: 19-93) who underwent US-guided PCNB via the CTHa for abdominal lesions between January 2014 and December 2024. All biopsies were performed by interventional radiologists with at least five years of experience using a coaxial system and an 18-gauge automatic biopsy device. Patients were assessed for technical success, diagnostic yield, and complications, which were classified as major or minor based on the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) guidelines.

RESULTS

Tissue samples were successfully obtained in all cases, achieving a 100% technical success rate. Adequate material for pathological diagnosis was available in 63 of 71 patients (88.7%), while a definitive diagnosis could not be established in 11.3% of cases. Diagnostic yield was significantly influenced by lesion type (solid or mixed with cystic components) and anatomical location (p = 0.001 and p = 0.032, respectively). Complications occurred in 12.7% of patients, including 11.3% minor and 1.4% major complications. Univariate logistic regression analysis identified a history of malignancy, lesion size along the biopsy path, and the length of liver parenchyma traversed as significant predictors of complications (p = 0.012, 0.027 and 0.003 respectively). In the multivariate model, liver parenchyma length remained the only independent risk factor (p = 0.023).

CONCLUSION

US-guided PCNB via the CTHa is a safe and effective option for abdominal lesions when extrahepatic access is not feasible. While longer liver tissue traversal increases the risk of minor complications, no major adverse events were observed. Careful procedural planning and consideration of lesion location and cystic content are essential to optimize diagnostic yield.

Percutaneous Transhepatic Biopsy for Extrahepatic Lesions

Purpose The purpose was to assess the diagnostic accuracy and safety of percutaneous transhepatic biopsy for extrahepatic lesions.

Materials and Methods Between January 2008 and December 2019, 26 patients (17 men and 9 women; median age, 60 years) underwent percutaneous transhepatic needle biopsy for extrahepatic lesions at our institution. Transhepatic biopsy was deemed appropriate compared with other biopsy routes or methods (i.e., endoscopic or surgical). The lesions were in the porta hepatis (n = 9), retroperitoneum (n = 6), right adrenal gland (n = 4), right kidney (n = 3), lesser omentum (n = 2), duodenum (n = 1), pleura (n = 1), and inferior vena cava (n = 1). The median maximal diameter of the lesions was 45.5 mm (range, 18–148 mm). Core-needle biopsy was performed in all patients. Eighteen-gauge and 21-G needles were used in 25 and one patient, respectively. Ultrasound was used for biopsy in 21 patients, and CT fluoroscopy was used in five patients. Postbiopsy tract embolization was performed in three patients. Technical success and diagnostic accuracy of the biopsy were evaluated. Complications were recorded using the systemic inflammation response (SIR) criteria.

Results The pathological results of biopsy were carcinoma (n = 10), lymphoma (n = 9), and other diagnoses (n = 7). Technical success was obtained in all patients. The accurate diagnosis was achieved in 24 of the 26 patients (92.3%). A major complication, a bladder tamponade, was observed in one patient (3.8%) after biopsy of a right kidney lesion. A hematoma caused by iatrogenic renal injury likely obstructed the bladder outlet. Minor complications were observed in three patients (11.5%).

Conclusions Percutaneous transhepatic biopsy for extrahepatic lesions is feasible with acceptable safety.

Image-guided biopsy of small (≤4 cm) renal masses: the effect of size and anatomical location on biopsy success rate and complications

OBJECTIVE

To study the influence of tumour diameter and anatomy on the success and complication rates of small renal mass (SRM, ≤4 cm) core biopsy.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of SRMs that underwent ultrasound or CT-guided biopsy. Diagnostic and complication rates were compared according to tumour size (subcategorised as axial diameter ≤2 cm, >2 to- ≤3 cm, >3-≤4 cm) and anatomical disposition (exophytic/endophytic, centrality, polar location and anterior/posterior).

RESULTS

94 patients (54 male; age range 21.8-84.3 years) with 95 SRMs underwent biopsy. The first biopsy was diagnostic in 81/95 (85.3%). Seven patients underwent repeat biopsy (6/7 diagnostic), to give an overall diagnostic rate of 91.5%. The primary diagnostic rates in the ≤2, >2-≤3 , >3-≤4 cm groups were 21/25 (84%); 38/44 (86.4%) and 22/26 (84.6%) respectively and were similar (p = 1.00). Anterior and upper pole SRMs were more likely to fail initial biopsy (odds ratio 13.8, p < 0.01; and odds ratio 4.35, p = 0.04) respectively, but other anatomical factors were not relevant. Complications occurred in 14% (all conservatively managed perinephric haematomas; Clavien-Dindo Grade 1) and size or location were not relevant.

CONCLUSION

Image-guided biopsy of SRMs has a high diagnostic rate irrespective of tumour size. Anterior and upper pole location had lower diagnostic rates. Biopsy should be considered for all patients with SRMs, if the result will impact on management and we list specific scenarios where an SRM biopsy may be helpful. Advances in knowledge: SRM size does not affect the likelihood of a diagnostic biopsy.

Ultrasound-guided genitourinary interventions: principles and techniques

Ultrasound (US) is often used to guide various interventional procedures in the genitourinary (GU) tract because it can provide real-time imaging without any radiation hazard. Moreover, US can clearly visualize the pathway of an aspiration or biopsy needle to ensure the safety of the intervention. US guidance also helps clinicians to access lesions via the transabdominal, transhepatic, transvaginal, transrectal, and transperineal routes. Hence, US-guided procedures are useful for radiologists who wish to perform GU interventions. However, US-guided procedures and interventions are difficult for beginners because they involve a steep initial learning curve. The purpose of this review is to describe the basic principles and techniques of US-guided GU interventions.

C-arm cone-beam computed tomography with stereotactic needle guidance for percutaneous adrenal biopsy: initial experience

Background Metastasis to the adrenal glands is frequent in patients with various cancers and adrenal gland biopsy is routinely performed using ultrasound or computed tomographic (CT) guidance. However, this method is technically challenging, especially in the case of small masses. Purpose To determine whether the new real-time stereotactic needle guidance technique C-arm cone-beam CT (CBCT) allows safe and accurate biopsy of adrenal gland masses, especially those in hard-to-reach anatomical locations. Material and Methods CBCT guidance was used to perform 60 stereotactic biopsy procedures of lesions that were inaccessible with ultrasound or CT guidance. The needle path was carefully planned and calculated on the CBCT virtual navigation guidance system, which acquired 3D CT-like cross-sectional images. The adrenal biopsy procedures were performed with fluoroscopic feedback. Technical success rate, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and complications were investigated. Results The technical success rate of adrenal biopsy under CBCT virtual navigation was 100%, with a mean total procedure time of 14.6 ± 3.6 min. Of the 60 lesions, 46 were malignant, 11 were benign, and three were non-diagnostic. The three non-diagnostic lesions proved to be malignant. Thus, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 93.8%, 100%, and 95.0%, respectively. Minor bleeding occurred in two (3.3%) cases. Conclusion CBCT guidance allows safe and accurate biopsy of adrenal gland masses and may be especially useful for hard-to-reach anatomical locations.

Image-guided urological interventions: What the urologists must know

Advances in imaging technology, especially in the last two decades, have led to a paradigm shift in the field of image-guided interventions in urology. While the traditional biopsy and drainage techniques are firmly established, image-based stone management and endovascular management of hematuria have evolved further. Ablative techniques for renal and prostate cancer and prostate artery embolization for benign prostatic hypertrophy have evolved into viable alternative treatments. Many urologic diseases that were earlier treated surgically are now effectively managed using minimally invasive image-guided techniques, often on a day care basis using only local anesthesia or conscious sedation. This article presents an overview of the technique and status of various image-guided urological procedures, including recent emerging techniques.