Percutaneous biopsy of abdominal masses using 25-gauge needles.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of using 25-gauge needles to biopsy abdominal masses.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A 6-month period of using 25-gauge needles (study group) as the only needle (n = 98) or the initial needle (n = 24) to biopsy abdominal masses was analyzed retrospectively. Diagnostic rate, sensitivity, negative predictive value, complication rate, and number of passes were compared with the same parameters obtained during the preceding 6 months during which 117 abdominal masses were biopsied and 25-gauge needles were not used (control group). There were no significant differences in patient age, gender distribution, or difficulty ratio of biopsies (path length divided by mass diameter) between the groups.

RESULTS

Diagnostic rates, sensitivities, and negative predictive values of biopsies in the study group (90.9% (111/122), 91.8%, (89/97), and 63.6% (14/22), respectively), were not significantly different from those in the control group (91.5% (107/117), 97.8% (91/93), and 87.5% (14/16), respectively). There were no major complications in either group; the complication rate in the control group (5.9%, 6/122) was not significantly different from the study group (4.9%, 7/117). Number of passes was significantly higher in the study group compared to the control group (mean values of 4.91 and 4.44, respectively, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Abdominal masses can be biopsied with 25-gauge needles, either alone or prior to larger needles, just as effectively and safely as with larger needles.