Transjugular Liver Biopsy in Patients with Liver Transplantation: Comparison of Quick-Core Biopsy and Forceps Biopsy.

PURPOSE

To compare the safety and efficacy of transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) using a Quick-Core biopsy needle or a forceps biopsy in patients with liver transplantation (LT) who were suspected of having rejection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From June 2015 to January 2017, 98 TJLBs (60 patients) with the Quick-Core biopsy needle and 95 TJLBs (58 patients) with a forceps biopsy system were attempted in patients with LT suspected of having rejection. Technical success, adequacy for diagnosis, number of biopsy instrument passes, the maximum and mean length of the obtained samples, and the complications were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

TJLB was technically successful in all patients. Adequate specimens were obtained in 95.9% of the biopsy needle group and 91.6% in the forceps group (p = 0.246). The mean number of biopsies was 4.8 ± 1.8 in the biopsy needle group and 6.2 ± 1.7 in the forceps group. The mean size of the biopsy sample was 11.1 ± 3.0 mm in the biopsy needle group and 2.5 ± 1.2 mm in the forceps group. Only one minor complication (a subcapsular hematoma) occurred in the biopsy needle group. No major complication was observed in any patient.

CONCLUSION

TJLB using a Quick-Core biopsy needle or forceps can be safely and effectively performed in LT patients. The adequacy of sampling for diagnosis was equivalent between the groups.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 4, case series.