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Liver Biopsy: To Do or Not to Do - A Single-Center Study.
Theodoros Androutsakos1, Konstantinos Dimitriadis1, Konstantinos Revenas2
1Pathophysiology Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece.
Digestive Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 23, 2023
Summary
Percutaneous liver biopsy (PLB) remains a valuable diagnostic tool for liver disorders. This study found PLB to be useful in most cases with rare complications, supporting its continued use when indicated.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Gastroenterology
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Liver disorders require histopathological diagnosis, often via percutaneous liver biopsy (PLB).
- PLB has known limitations and potential complications.
- Assessing the utility and safety of PLB is crucial for clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic utility of percutaneous liver biopsy (PLB).
- To assess the complication rate associated with PLB.
- To determine the overall effectiveness of PLB in a tertiary university hospital setting.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of all PLBs performed over a 13-year period.
- Data collection included patient demographics, laboratory results, biopsy indications, and adverse events.
- Post-discharge follow-up for 1 month to identify complications.
Main Results:
- 261 patients underwent PLB; liver mass investigation and transaminasemia were common indications.
- PLB aided diagnosis in 218 patients; 43 were unhelpful, often due to specimen inadequacy.
- Complications were rare, including pain (10 patients) and bleeding (3 patients); no deaths occurred.
Conclusions:
- Percutaneous liver biopsy (PLB) is a powerful diagnostic tool in clinical practice.
- The utility of PLB is high when performed for appropriate indications.
- PLB demonstrates a favorable safety profile with infrequent complications.
