Clinical Research
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 21, 2006; 12(39): 6339-6342
Published online Oct 21, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i39.6339
Table 1 Indications for transjugular approach to liver biopsy
(1) Increased risk of liver bleeding: 16 cases (53.3%)
Severe coagulation disorders (14 cases) including:
-Thrombocytopenia: 1 cases (due to hypersplenism or hematological disorders)
-Fulminant hepatitis (Severe acute hepatitis): 13 cases
Miscellaneous disorders (2 cases) including:
-Hematological diseases (DIC): 2 cases
(2) Measurement of hepatic pressure gradient: 4 cases (13.3%)
(3) Massive ascites: 5 cases (16.6%)
(4) Miscellaneous: suspicion of amyloidosis or peliosis, obesity, failure of percutaneous liver biopsy: 5 cases (16.6%)
Table 2 Clinical features of patients
Clinical featureNew device(n = 18)Quick-core biopsy needle(n = 12 )
Sex (M/F)9/96/6
Mean age ± SD (range) (yr)46.6 ± 15.4 (22-72)49.4 ± 16.3 (27-75)
Indications
Increased risk of bleeding:97
Measurement of hepatic pressure gradient:31
Massive ascites:32
Miscellaneous:32
Table 3 Final diagnosis of successful biopsies (n = 30)
(1) Liver cirrhosis: 9 cases (30.0%)
Alcohol: 5 cases AIH: 3 cases IPH: 1 case
(2) Viral hepatitis: 14 cases (46.6%)
Fulminant: Massive necrosis: 4 cases, Submassive necrosis: 9 cases,
Chronic: 1 case
(3) Unknown Origin: 2 cases (6.6%)
Focal necrosis: 2 cases
(4) Tumoral diseases: 2 cases (6.6%)
Metastasis: 1 case, Lymphoma: 1 case
(5) Others: 3 cases (9.9%)
Intrahepatic cholestassis: 1 case, NASH s/o: 1 case,
Amyloidosis s/o: 1 case
Table 4 Biopsy specimens obtained in successful attempts
New device(n = 18)Quick-core biopsy needle(n = 12)
Tissue Length (mm)15.3 ± 5.1 (10-21)6.8 ± 2.1 (3-10)
Number of portal triads6.5 ± 1.23.5 ± 0.6
Number of fragments0/18 (0%)3/12 (25%)
Number of passes1.1 ± 0.21.8 ± 0.8
Minutes (min)28.5 ± 7.945.1 ± 9.9
Table 5 Complications of transjugular liver biopsy
New device(n = 18)Quick-core biopsy needle(n = 12 )
Cardiac arrhythmia
(Supraventricular tachycardia)12
Transient fever01
Transient abdominal pain13