[Arteriovenous fistulae following liver puncture biopsy]

5 cases of arterio-venous fistula secondary to needle biopsy of the liver are reported. In 4 cases the lesion was a chance radiologic finding during arteriography and did not require a surgical procedure. In two cases spontaneous closure of the fistula was demonstrated by a second arteriography. Only in the fifth case did development of portal hypertension require a surgical procedure, ligature of the right hepatic artery being performed.