Guided versus blind liver biopsy for chronic hepatitis C: clinical benefits and costs

Background/Aims: Our objectives were: (1) to assess the clinical benefits and costs of performing ultrasound-guided liver biopsy with an automated needle compared to blind biopsy with a conventional Trucut needle in patients with chronic hepatitis C; (2) to compare the histological yield of automated needles with Trucut needles. Methods: We prospectively studied 166 patients with hepatitis C virus who underwent either ultrasoundguided biopsy using automated ASAP needles or blind biopsy using conventional Trucut needles. Both groups were matched for age, sex, cirrhosis, needle gauge and operator experience. Patient tolerance, complications and histological adequacy were assessed. In a separate in vitro study, we assessed the histological adequacy of liver biopsy specimens obtained using automated and Trucut needles from 10 fresh autopsy cases. Results: Ultrasound-guided biopsy caused significantly less biopsy pain (36.4% vs. 47.3%; p