Hepatic Lesions
Conditions
Keywords
Liver Biopsy, Focal Liver Lesion, Coarse Needle Biopsy, Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound, Coaxial Biopsy
Brief summary
This study compared two methods used to guide needle biopsies of suspicious lumps (lesions) in the liver. A biopsy is a procedure where a small sample of tissue is taken to make a diagnosis. Doctors often use standard ultrasound (US) to see the lesion and guide the needle. Another method uses a special dye (contrast agent) injected into a vein during the ultrasound, which is called contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). The dye helps blood vessels and the lesion light up on the screen. The researchers wanted to find out if using CEUS leads to a more successful biopsy than using standard US alone.
Detailed description
This study compared two different methods used to guide needles during a percutaneous (through the skin) biopsy of a focal liver lesion (a suspicious mass or lump in the liver). The goal was to see if one method was better than the other at ensuring a successful and diagnostic biopsy. The researchers looked back at the records of 330 patients who had a liver biopsy. Of these, 113 had a CEUS-guided biopsy and 217 had a standard US-guided biopsy. To ensure a fair comparison, they used a statistical method to create two perfectly matched groups of 92 patients each. The patients in these groups were very similar in terms of factors like the size and location of their liver lesion, so that the only major difference was the type of guidance used (CEUS or US). For most patients with a liver lesion that can be seen on a standard ultrasound, this study suggests that using the more advanced and expensive CEUS method does not increase the chances of a successful biopsy. The standard ultrasound guidance is just as effective. Therefore, the routine use of CEUS for all liver biopsies may not be necessary. This helps in managing healthcare resources wisely. However, CEUS remains a valuable tool for specific situations where a lesion is very difficult to see clearly on a standard ultrasound scan. Doctors can reserve CEUS for these more challenging cases.
Interventions
PROCEDURECEUS or Contrast enhanced Ultrasound
CEUS-guided coaxial biopsy for hepatic lesions
PROCEDUREUS
US-guided coaxial biopsy for hepatic lesions
Sponsors
The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
RETROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Indeterminate liver lesions on prior imaging (CT/MRI). * Coaxial biopsy performed with 18G introducer needle.
Exclusion criteria
* Coagulopathy (INR \>1.5, platelets \<50×109/L). * Contraindications to ultrasound contrast agents.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| the biopsy success rate | from enrollment to the end of the biopsy | the biopsy success rate of liver lesion |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| bleeding | during the procedure | bleeding due to biopsy |
| pneumothorax | during the procedure | A pneumothorax (often called a collapsed lung) happens when air leaks into the space between your lung and your chest wall. |
| vasovagal reaction | during the procedure | A vasovagal reaction is a sudden drop in your heart rate and blood pressure. This reduces blood flow to your brain, which can cause you to feel dizzy, sweaty, and nauseous, and can sometimes lead to fainting. |
| unplanned hospitalization | 48 hours after the surgery | An unplanned hospitalization is an urgent admission to a hospital, typically through the emergency department, for an unexpected and serious medical event or a sudden worsening of a pre-existing condition. |
| death | 48 hours after the surgery | Death is the permanent and irreversible end of all life functions in a living organism. |
| shock | during the procedure | Shock is a critical state of circulatory failure where the body's organs are starved of oxygen due to low blood flow, which can be caused by severe bleeding, heart failure, major infection, or a severe allergic reaction. |
Countries
China
Outcome results
None listed