J Korean Radiol Soc.  1998 Aug;39(2):353-356. 10.3348/jkrs.1998.39.2.353.

Percutaneous biopsy of malignant hepatic tumor in patients with bleeding tendency: Usefulness of gelfoamplugging up the biopsy track

• Yoon HR
• Kwak BK
• Choi CH
• Park YO
• Yang KM
• Seo JY
• Lee SH
• Lee CJ
• Shim HJ

• KMID: 2024850
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.1998.39.2.353

Abstract

PURPOSE: To plug the biopsy site in eight patients with coagulopathy who had undergone percutaneous liverbiopsy. To this end, gelfoam cartridge was used as a sealant.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Using an 18G Tru-Cut-typedisposible automated biopsy gun(Soo Ho Medi-tech, Seoul, Korea) and under US guidance, eight patients underwentpercutaneous liver biopsy. After the gun had fired, the biopsy specimen in the inner stylet was retrieved whilethe outer cannula was held in place ; the cannula was then used to plug the biopsy tracks with gelfoam, using twoor three cartridges. If bleeding occurred, this was controlled by the use of more gelfoam cartridges.
RESULTS
Diagnostic target tissue was obtained in seven of the eight patients(87.5%). Hepatocellular carcinoma wasdiagnosed in five cases and metastatic cancer in two. Profuse bleeding was observed in one patient(12.5%) andresolved by gelfoam plugging.
CONCLUSION
We believe that in patients with coagulopathy who are required toundergo liver biopsy plugging the liver biopsy track with gelfoam cartridge is a simple, safe and useful method.

Keyword

Liver, biopsy; Liver neoplasms, Biopsies; technology

MeSH Terms

Biopsy*
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
Catheters
Fires
Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable
Hemorrhage*
Humans
Liver
Seoul