Research Report
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World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. May 15, 2014; 5(2): 114-119
Published online May 15, 2014. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v5.i2.114
Liver biopsy: Analysis of results of two specialist teams
Giulia Anania, Elia Gigante, Matteo Piciucchi, Emanuela Pilozzi, Eugenio Pucci, Adriano Maria Pellicelli, Carlo Capotondi, Michele Rossi, Flavia Baccini, Giulio Antonelli, Paola Begini, Gianfranco Delle Fave, Massimo Marignani
Giulia Anania, Elia Gigante, Matteo Piciucchi, Flavia Baccini, Giulio Antonelli, Paola Begini, Gianfranco Delle Fave, Massimo Marignani, Department of Digestive and Liver Disease, School of Medicine and Psychology University “Sapienza”, 00189 Rome, Italy
Emanuela Pilozzi, Eugenio Pucci, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and Psychology University “Sapienza” Azienda Ospedaliera, 00189 Rome, Italy
Adriano Maria Pellicelli, Liver Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera San Camillo, 000149 Rome, Italy
Carlo Capotondi, Michele Rossi, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine and Psychology University “Sapienza” Azienda Ospedaliera, 00189 Rome, Italy
Author contributions: Anania G, Gigante E, Antonelli G and Marignani M performed the research; Capotondi C, Rossi M, Baccini F, Begini P and Marignani M performed the procedures; Pilozzi E and Pucci E performed the histological analysis; Anania G, Gigante E, Piciucchi M, Begini P and Marignani M analyzed the data; Marignani M, Pellicelli AM and Delle Fave G drafted the paper; Anania G, Gigante E, Piciucchi M and Marignani M wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Massimo Marignani, MD, Department of Digestive and Liver Disease, Biliary Tract and Liver Disease Section, School of Medicine and Psychology University “Sapienza”, Azienda Ospedaliera Sant’Andrea, Via Grottarossa, 1035-1039, 00189 Rome, Italy. mmarignani@hotmail.com
Telephone: +39-6-33775691 Fax: +39-6-33775526
Received: September 11, 2013
Revised: December 20, 2013
Accepted: January 17, 2014
Published online: May 15, 2014
Processing time: 251 Days and 1.2 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Gastroenterologists and interventional radiologists are equally proficient in performing liver biopsy, both in a day hospital and regular admission setting, even with different techniques used (ultrasound-guided and ultrasound-assisted). However, a biopsy performed with larger needles provides better samples for histopathological evaluation, with no increase of morbidity or mortality rates compared to those obtained using needles of smaller size.