Biopsy of solid liver tumors: adverse consequences

Abstract

Background: Percutaneous radiologically-guided liver biopsy is used routinely worldwide in all secondary-level hospital centers. While it has an undoubted role in the investigation and management of acute and chronic inflammatory conditions of the liver, its role in hepatic oncology is doubtful and probably dangerous.

Method: We report on two patients who underwent preoperative biopsy of potentially resectable liver tumors.

Results: At the time of surgery, there was evidence of seeding at the biopsy site in both cases. In case 1, potentially curative liver resection was rendered incurable because of gross peritoneal carcinomatosis lying adjacent to the site of liver biopsy. In case 2, the patient underwent curative liver resection, but there was histopathological evidence of peritoneal disease beyond the liver capsule along the falciform ligament at the site of the previous biopsy.

Conclusions: No patient with a suspicious liver tumor which is thought to be malignant and has any possibility of being a potential candidate for liver surgery, should be subjected to pre-operative diagnostic biopsy in a non-specialist center.