Ultrasonically-guided fine-needle biopsy of gastrointestinal organs: indications, results and complications.

Percutaneous ultrasonically (US) guided fine-needle biopsy can be considered the first invasive diagnostic step for hepatic malignancies. This procedure may also be useful for benign hepatic lesions. In pancreatic tumors the success rate of this technique is lower than that obtained in hepatic masses. US-guided puncture shows low risk even though fatal and major complications, although rare, may occur.