American Journal of Roentgenology, Vol 164, 195-199, Copyright © 1995 by American Roentgen Ray Society

ARTICLES

CT percutaneous biopsy guns: comparison of end-cut and side-notch devices in cadaveric specimens

KD Hopper, CS Abendroth, KW Sturtz, YL Matthews, JS Hartzel and PS Potok
Department of Radiology, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey 17033.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacies of four different types of end-cut biopsy guns with the side-notch Tru-cut biopsy gun. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A total of 25 liver, 15 kidney, 10 pancreas, and 15 breast biopsies were performed in the tissue from five autopsies with each of 12 different biopsy devices/biopsy depths. The tissue obtained was evaluated by an experienced cytopathologist who, not knowing which gun was used to obtain each specimen, used a predetermined grading scheme. RESULTS. When tissue was obtained, the end-cut biopsy guns performed equivalently to the side-notch biopsy gun in all four tissues. However, the end-cut guns had a significant number of "zero" biopsies (biopsy attempts during which no tissue was obtained). The proportion of zero biopsies with the end-cut guns ranged from up to 28% in the liver to 60% and 73% in the breast and kidney, respectively. CONCLUSION. The end-cut biopsy guns are easy to use and potentially can obtain high-quality specimens. However, the rate of zero biopsies during which no tissue is obtained is a serious deficiency. As a result, the use of the end-cut biopsy gun should be encouraged only for use with an introducer, with which multiple biopsy specimens can easily be obtained without additional needle punctures.
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