[The risk of liver biopsy]

Complications have been reported to occur in 0.14 through 0.29% of all patients undergoing liver biopsy. The total incidence of complications is lower in laparoscopically guided biopsy when compared with percutaneous liver biopsy. On the other hand fatal complications appear to be more frequent with laparoscopy (0.038%) than with percutaneous biopsy (0.009-0.017%). Nevertheless, laparoscopic biopsy should be preferred particularly in patients with suspected liver cirrhosis, since laparoscopy is more sensitive for this diagnosis. Until now, the significance of the type of biopsy needle used has not definitively been clarified. The results that are available however indicate, that biopsy with the Tru-cut needle is accompanied by a particularly high bleeding risk. Regarding the results of retrospective studies concerning needle diameter, less serious complications appear to occur after fine needle biopsy when compared with standard needles. Thus, fine needle biopsy should be preferred in patients with focal liver lesions, since the bleeding risk is assumed to be higher in these cases.