Background: The site for percutaneous liver biopsy is determined by physical examination and anatomic landmarks. The authors compared physical examination with ultrasound examination to determine liver location, size, and an optimal biopsy site.
Methods: A pediatric gastroenterology fellow or attending gastroenterologist initially selected a biopsy site by physical examination. An ultrasonographer performed a limited ultrasound examination to evaluate this site.
Results: Sixty biopsy sites from 58 patients were evaluated. Forty-six patients had no previous liver surgery. Two patients had had a Kasai procedure. Ten patients had had orthotopic liver transplantation. The mean age of the patients was 11.1 +/- 7.6 years. Ultrasonography detected the following potential complications of percutaneous biopsy at the site determined by physical examination: insufficient liver (7 of 15, 47.0%), diaphragm injury (4 of 15, 27.0%), bowel perforation (2 of 15, 13.0%), kidney laceration (1 of 15, 7.0%), and large blood vessel laceration (1 of 15, 7.0%). These ultrasound findings directed a change in biopsy site for 15 (25.0%) physical examination sites. Major biopsy complications were rare (1.7%).
Conclusion: Ultrasound examination resulted in a location change to a more optimal site in 25.0% of the sites determined by physical examination. Ultrasound determination of the biopsy site should be considered before pediatric percutaneous liver biopsy.