[Ultrasonically guided percutaneous fine-needle biopsy (author's transl)]

A new method is described of doing fine-needle biopsies, under continuous visual control with real-time ultrasonic guidance, of the neck, thoracic and abdominal regions. The method decreases the risk of needle puncture and improves the yield of material obtained. It is simple and hardly stresses the patient, pain being only slight and momentary. It can be easily repeated. It is particularly useful for amniocentesis in obstetrics because it employs the shortest possible pathway.