Kyoung Won Kim MD, PRESENTER: Nothing to Disclose

Abstract: HTML Purpose: To determine the value of "patent tract sign" at Doppler ultrasound (US) examination after percutaneous liver biopsy in the detection of post-biopsy bleeding. Methods and Materials: A total of 114 patients underwent Doppler US examinations directly after US-guided percutaneous liver biopsies and constituted the study population. Color Doppler US images were repeatedly obtained immediately and at five minutes after the biopsy. The US images were prospectively evaluated for the presence of a "patent tract sign", defined as a linear tract of color flow along the path of the needle. The patients were followed-up with clinical and laboratory findings in search for evidence of post-biopsy bleeding. The patients suspected of having post-biopsy bleeding underwent contrast-enhanced CT. The US results were compared to the clinical assessment and CT findings. Results: Clinically significant post-biopsy bleeding occurred in four patients (3%), which was a large amount of intraperitoneal hemorrhage on CT scans. On color Doppler US images obtained immediately after the biopsy, a "patent tract sign" was seen in 20 patients (17%): the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of this sign for post-biopsy bleeding were 100, 86, 20, and 100%, respectively. Among these patients, this sign was persistently seen in four and disappeared in the remaining 16, on the images obtained at five minutes after the biopsy: the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of this sign for post-biopsy bleeding were 75, 99, 75, and 100%, respectively. Conclusion: Doppler US examination after percutaneous liver biopsy provides excellent screening for detection of post-biopsy bleeding. A "patent tract sign", which persists for five minutes after the biopsy, strongly predicts the possibility of subsequent occurrence of clinically significant post-biopsy bleeding.       Questions about this event email: kimkw@amc.seoul.kr

Kim MD, K, Value of "Patent Tract Sign" at Doppler US Examination after Percutaneous Liver Biopsy in the Detection of Post-biopsy Bleeding: A Prospective Study in 114 Patients.  Radiological Society of North America 2003 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 30 - December 5, 2003 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2003/3108261.html