Computed tomography-guided percutaneous biopsy for assessing tumor heterogeneity in neuroendocrine tumor metastases to the liver

Table 1 Patient clinical characteristics and pathological features

Characteristics	Number (median or mean ± SD)
Patients	92
Median age (range), years	48 (27-77)
Male/female	48/44
Liver tumors (PCT-CNB)	97
Tumors size (cm), mean ± SD	3.9 ± 2.7
Liver segments
S1	0 (0)
S2	3 (3.3)
S3	6 (6.5)
S4	5 (5.4)
S5	12 (12.0)
S6	29 (30.4)
S7	20 (20.7)
S8	22 (21.7)
Grading classifications (PCT-CNB)
G1	14 (14.4)
G2	61 (62.9)
G3	22 (22.7)
Grading classifications (initial diagnosis)
G1	20 (21.7)
G2	59 (64.1)
G3	13 (14.1)
Primary tumor site
Stomach	3 (3.3)
Duodenum	3 (3.3)
Pancreas	75 (81.5)
Jejunum/ileum	4 (4.3)
Rectum	7 (7.6)
Tumor samples method (liver and primary sites)
PCT-CNB	97 (52.7)
PUS-CNB	10 (5.4)
EUS-FNA	12 (6.5)
Gastroscopic/colonoscopic biopsy	4 (2.2)
Surgery	61 (33.2)

All included patients met predefined inclusion criteria, with no significant differences in baseline characteristics between subgroups (all P > 0.05). PCT-CNB: Percutaneous computed tomography-guided core needle biopsy; PUS-CNB: Percutaneous ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy; EUS-FNA: Endoscopic ultrasonography guided fine needle aspiration.

Table 2 Grade changes between liver tumor (percutaneous computed tomography-guided core needle biopsy) and the primary tumor (n = 76)

Patients	Grade at initial diagnosis	Grade at second diagnosis
5	G1	G1
13	G1	G2
2	G1	G3
4	G2	G1
32	G2	G2
10	G2	G3
1	G3	G1
1	G3	G2
8	G3	G3

Table 3 Grade changes between liver tumor (percutaneous computed tomography-guided core needle biopsy) and the secondary liver tumor (percutaneous computed tomography-guided core needle biopsy or percutaneous ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy or surgery) (n = 16)

Patients	Grade at initial diagnosis	Grade at second diagnosis
0	G1	G1
0	G1	G2
0	G1	G3
1	G2	G1
8	G2	G2
4	G2	G3
0	G3	G1
1	G3	G2
2	G3	G3