Comparison of a new aspiration needle device and the Quick-Core biopsy needle for transjugular liver biopsy

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 feature	New device(n = 18)	Quick-core biopsy needle(n = 12 )
Sex (M/F)	9/9	6/6
Mean age ± SD (range) (yr)	46.6 ± 15.4 (22-72)	49.4 ± 16.3 (27-75)
Indications
Increased risk of bleeding:	9	7
Measurement of hepatic pressure gradient:	3	1
Massive ascites:	3	2
Miscellaneous:	3	2

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 triads	6.5 ± 1.2	3.5 ± 0.6
Number of fragments	0/18 (0%)	3/12 (25%)
Number of passes	1.1 ± 0.2	1.8 ± 0.8
Minutes (min)	28.5 ± 7.9	45.1 ± 9.9

Table 5 Complications of transjugular liver biopsy

	New device(n = 18)	Quick-core biopsy needle(n = 12 )
Cardiac arrhythmia
(Supraventricular tachycardia)	1	2
Transient fever	0	1
Transient abdominal pain	1	3