Percutaneous image-guided biopsy in an elderly population.

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Geriatric Medicine
• Oncology

Background:

• Image-guided biopsy is a crucial diagnostic tool.
• Assessing its safety and efficacy in elderly populations is important for clinical decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety, accuracy, and clinical utility of image-guided biopsy in patients aged 80 years and older.
• To compare outcomes in elderly patients with a younger cohort.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 616 image-guided biopsy cases in elderly patients (>/=80 years) over 5 years.
• Comparison of accuracy and complication rates with 13,012 younger patients.
• Evaluation of treatment initiation based on biopsy results in matched younger patients.

Main Results:

• High accuracy rates were observed in both elderly (95%) and younger (96.5%) patients, though significantly higher in the younger group (P=.0247).
• Image-guided biopsy in elderly patients showed no increased risk of major complications compared to younger patients.
• Therapy initiation after a malignant diagnosis was significantly lower in elderly patients (58%) than in younger cohorts (60-70 y: 100%; 70-80 y: 95%).

Conclusions:

• Image-guided biopsy is a safe and accurate procedure for elderly patients aged 80 and above.
• The risk of complications is not elevated in this demographic.
• Malignant diagnoses from image-guided biopsies in elderly patients less frequently lead to the initiation of therapy.