[The impact of echo-guided percutaneous biopsy in the diagnosis of focal hepatic lesions].

In order to assess the clinical efficacy of percutaneous echo-guided biopsy (PBE), the authors evaluated its contribution to the diagnostic work-up and therapy selection in 165 cases of confirmed focal hepatic lesions. The cases were studied prospectively using a survey form. PBE yielded a significant contribution to the diagnosis in 79.4% of the cases. It was of substantial or conclusive value to therapeutic selection in 65% of the cases. Moreover, PBE allowed a high number of diagnoses which were unsuspected considering the previous standard clinical and instrumental work-ups. The clinical usefulness of PBE in focal hepatic lesion diagnoses is stressed. Its use saves time in the diagnostic management with considerable cost saving.