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The threshold for performing percutaneous imaging-guided biopsies is low, given their relative safety. Nevertheless, bleeding complications do occur occasionally. In 2002, Mayo Clinic radiologists began systematic surveillance for bleeding complications after computed tomography– or ultrasound-guided core biopsies with 20-gauge or larger needles. Biopsies generally were performed only when platelet counts were >50,000/mm3 and international normalized ratio (INR) was <1.6. During 6 years, 15,551 biopsies were performed; the most commonly sampled organs were kidney (38%, representing both native and transplanted organs) and liver (24%).
Seventy patients (0.5%) had serious bleeding complications (i.e., requiring transfusion, requiring radiologi…