Objective: To compare safety and sensitivity in diagnosis of liver lesion between ultrasound-guided 16 gauges (G) and 18 G core needle biopsy.
Methods: Ultrasound-guided 16 G needle biopsy was performed in 141 patients, 77 males and 64e females, aged 51.2, and ultrasound-guided 18 G needle biopsy was performed in 105 patients, 54 males and 51 females, aged 60.1. The final diagnosis was based on the post-operative pathological examination and/or the results of 6-month follow-up.
Results: In the In the ultrasound-guided 16 G needle biopsy, 171 passes were performed with an average of 1.21 pass, a sensitivity rate of 95.9%, and a specificity rate of 100%, and abdominal pain occurred in 51 cases, and bleeding occurred in 3 cases. In the ultrasound-guided 18 G needle biopsy, 161 passes were performed with an average of 1.53 passes, a sensitivity rate of 83.8%, and a specificity rate of 100%, and abdominal pain occurred in 37 cases, and bleeding occurred in 2 cases. The number of pass of the 16 G was significantly less then that of the 128 G group (P = 0.000). The sensitivity rate of the 16 G needle biopsy was significantly higher than that of the 18 G group (P = 0.46).
Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided 16 gauges core needle biopsy is safe for the diagnosis of hepatic disease and more sensitive than the 18 G biopsy.