Fine-Needle Aspiration Versus Fine-Needle Biopsy for Liver Biopsy: Which Is Best?

A small prospective, randomized study suggests that core needles are better.

Endoscopic ultrasound–guided liver biopsy (EUS-LB) is a technique still in development. Tools and techniques, which lobe to sample, and other questions inspire considerable debate. A recent prospective, randomized study compared the use of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) needles with fine-needle biopsy (FNB) needles for EUS-LB.

The authors randomized 40 patients to EUS-LB with either a 19-gauge (19G) FNA or 19G FNB needle and evaluated multiple parameters relevant to liver biopsy specimens. Bilobar samples were obtained from all patients. Specimens were evaluated both pre- and postprocessing. The primary outcome was length of the longest piece of liver core specimen. The mean preprocessing length of the longest specimen piece was 2.09 cm (stand…

Reviewing Author

Douglas G. Adler, MD, FACG, AGAF, FASGE

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBSC; Merit; Olympus

Speaker’s BureauAbbVie

Editorial BoardsGastrointestinal Endoscopy

Douglas G. Adler, MD, FACG, AGAF, FASGE

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBSC; Merit; Olympus

Speaker’s BureauAbbVie

Editorial BoardsGastrointestinal Endoscopy

Fine-Needle Aspiration Versus Fine-Needle Biopsy for Liver Biopsy: Which Is Best?

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Reviewing Author