Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 30, 2026
Transperineal Prostate Biopsy Using a Cone-shaped Double-hole Method with Dual-plane Probe Guidance
Published on: June 6, 2025
A sequential comparison on the risk of haemorrhage with different sizes of biopsy needles for stereotactic brain
Jason Yuen1, Cannon X L Zhu, Danny T M Chan
1Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
Aim:
To compare the risk of postoperative haemorrhage with different sizes of brain biopsy needles.
Patients And Method:
A cohort of patients using a 2.5-mm outer diameter side-cutting biopsy needle was compared to a subsequent cohort using a 1.8-mm needle of the same type. All data were collected prospectively. A CT scan was done within 12 h after surgery. Any visible haemorrhage at the operated site was documented.
Results:
From 2007 to 2013, 54 stereotactic brain biopsies (all frameless except for one frame-based) were performed. The 2.5-mm group comprised 29 procedures from 2007 to 2009. The 1.8-mm group comprised the subsequent 25 procedures. The diagnostic yields were 90 and 96% in the 2.5- and the 1.8-mm group, respectively (p = 0.615). Comparing the 2.5- and the 1.8-mm group, haemorrhage was significantly reduced: incidence (72 vs. 40%, p = 0.016); size of haemorrhage (mean 7.2 vs. 2.6 mm, p = 0.002); proportion of haemorrhage size >10 mm (34.5 vs. 4%, p = 0.006). Symptomatic haemorrhage rates were 3.4 and 0.0% in the 2.5- and the 1.8-mm group, respectively (p = 1.00).
Conclusion:
The 1.8-mm outer diameter needle carried a lower risk of postoperative haemorrhage than the 2.5-mm one, without compromising the diagnostic yield.
