Difference in specimen weights with semi-automatic cutting biopsy needles.

PURPOSE

To assess specimen weight difference of six types of semi-automatic cutting biopsy needles.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We compared 18- and 20-gauge needles, one aspiration-type (STARCUT aspiration-type, TSK Laboratory, Tochigi, Japan) and five non-aspiration-type (MISSION, BARD, AZ; SuperCore™, Argon Medical Devices, TX; Temno Evolution, Care Fusion, IL; FINE CORE, Toray Medical, Tokyo, Japan; Quick-Core, Cook, IN) needles. Four biopsies were performed with each needle with the longest throw length on an excised bovine liver. The biopsies were repeated with new needles, four times with four different livers. STARCUT was used both with and without aspiration.

RESULTS

Sixteen specimens were obtained with each needle. In needles of gauges, STARCUT with aspiration provided the heaviest specimen and significantly heavier specimens were obtained with STARCUT with aspiration (P < 0.05) than five non-aspiration-type needles. The specimen weight differed significantly (P < 0.001) among all 18- and 20-gauge needles. The specimen weights did not differ significantly between aspiration and non-aspiration biopsies with STARCUT (6.32 vs. 5.97 mg with 18-gauge needle, P = 0.342; 1.95 vs. 1.92 mg with 20-gauge needle, P = 0.886).

CONCLUSION

Although STARCUT with aspiration provided the heaviest specimen, specimen weights were not significantly different between aspiration and non-aspiration biopsies. We assessed the specimen weight difference of six types of semi-automatic cutting biopsy needles. Significantly heavier specimens were obtained with STARCUT with aspiration than the other needles. The specimen weight differed significantly among all 18- and 20-gauge needles but did not differ significantly between aspiration and non-aspiration biopsies with STARCUT.