MRI-guided thoraco-abdominal percutaneous needle biopsy: our initial experience

Area of Science:

• Interventional Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Oncology

Background:

• Interventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (IMRI) Suite offers advanced capabilities for minimally invasive procedures.
• Percutaneous biopsies are crucial for diagnosing thoraco-abdominal masses, but accessibility can be challenging with conventional imaging modalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the technique for performing thoraco-abdominal biopsies within an Interventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (IMRI) Suite.
• To report the early clinical outcomes and feasibility of MRI-guided percutaneous biopsies.

Main Methods:

• Prospective evaluation of patients undergoing MRI-guided biopsy between January 2021 and May 2022.
• Exclusion criteria included need for US/CT guidance, biopsy contraindications, and patient inability to tolerate the procedure.
• Biopsies were performed by experienced interventional radiologists, with data collected on procedure details and histopathology.

Main Results:

• 57 patients with suspected thoraco-abdominal malignancies underwent successful MRI-guided percutaneous biopsy.
• The mean procedure duration was 37 minutes, with a mean needle-in-patient time of 10 minutes.
• Technical and clinical success was achieved in all cases, with malignancy diagnosed in 82% and no major complications reported.

Conclusions:

• MRI-guided biopsies of thoraco-abdominal masses are technically feasible and accurate.
• Interventional MRI provides a comfortable and effective alternative to US/CT, particularly for difficult-to-access lesions.
• This technique expands diagnostic and therapeutic options for interventional radiologists.