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

Percutaneous abdominal biopsies provide referring physicians with valuable diagnostic and prognostic information that guides patient care. All biopsy procedures follow a similar process that begins with the preprocedure evaluation of the patient and ends with the postprocedure management of the patient. In this review, a step-by-step approach to both routine and challenging abdominal biopsies is covered with an emphasis on the differences in biopsy devices and imaging guidance modalities. Adjunctive techniques that may facilitate accessing a lesion in a difficult location or reduce procedure risk are described. An understanding of these concepts will help maintain the favorable safety profile and high diagnostic yield associated with percutaneous biopsies.