Percutaneous biopsy of operable liver lesions: is it necessary or advisable?

AIM

The necessity and desirability of performing percutaneous biopsy of potentially resectable liver tumours is called into question.

METHODS

Two cases are reported in which percutaneous biopsy of resectable liver tumours was performed unnecessarily and resulted in needle track seeding.

RESULTS

In both instances patients who underwent potentially curative liver resection were rendered incurable because of biopsy track recurrence.

CONCLUSION

The common practice of performing percutaneous ultrasound or CT guided biopsy of potentially resectable lesions in the liver is generally neither necessary nor desirable.