Difference in specimen weights with semi-automatic cutting biopsy needles
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Updated: Dec 27, 2025
Human Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Sampling Using a Mini-Liposuction Technique
Published on: September 27, 2021
Toshihiro Iguchi1, Takao Hiraki2, Yusuke Matsui2
1Department of Radiology, Okayama University Medical School, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan. iguchi@ba2.so-net.ne.jp.
Purpose:
To assess specimen weight difference of six types of semi-automatic cutting biopsy needles.
Materials And Methods:
We compared 18- and 20-gauge needles, one aspiration-type (STARCUT® aspiration-type, TSK Laboratory, Tochigi, Japan) and five non-aspiration-type (MISSION®, BARD, AZ; SuperCore™, Argon Medical Devices, TX; Temno Evolution®, Care Fusion, IL; FINE CORE®, Toray Medical, Tokyo, Japan; Quick-Core®, Cook, IN) needles. Four biopsies were performed with each needle with the longest throw length on an excised bovine liver. The biopsies were repeated with new needles, four times with four different livers. STARCUT® was used both with and without aspiration.
Results:
Sixteen specimens were obtained with each needle. In needles of gauges, STARCUT® with aspiration provided the heaviest specimen and significantly heavier specimens were obtained with STARCUT® with aspiration (P < 0.05) than five non-aspiration-type needles. The specimen weight differed significantly (P < 0.001) among all 18- and 20-gauge needles. The specimen weights did not differ significantly between aspiration and non-aspiration biopsies with STARCUT® (6.32 vs. 5.97 mg with 18-gauge needle, P = 0.342; 1.95 vs. 1.92 mg with 20-gauge needle, P = 0.886).
Conclusion:
Although STARCUT® with aspiration provided the heaviest specimen, specimen weights were not significantly different between aspiration and non-aspiration biopsies. We assessed the specimen weight difference of six types of semi-automatic cutting biopsy needles. Significantly heavier specimens were obtained with STARCUT® with aspiration than the other needles. The specimen weight differed significantly among all 18- and 20-gauge needles but did not differ significantly between aspiration and non-aspiration biopsies with STARCUT®.
