[Transvenous biopsy of tumor thrombi in the vena cava]

Percutaneous transvenous tumor biopsy was performed in three patients with tumor thrombi in the vena cava. In one case, we tried three kinds of equipment, an endobronchial brush, an aspiration needle and a cystoscopic forceps, for the biopsy, and found the forceps most useful. So, we used only forceps in the other cases and obtained satisfactory results. The biopsy could be obtained easily at the time of angiography, and there were no complications. This technique was helpful in making a histologic diagnosis of intravenous tumors.