For hepatologists, performing liver biopsies themselves has advantages, from getting quality specimens to providing uninterrupted patient care. But in some cases, referring a patient to an interventional radiologist is the better option.
One benefit of the DIY biopsy is the ability to get a thick core, said Nizar Senussi, MD, an advanced/transplant hepatology fellow at Swedish Medical Center, in Seattle. Dedicated needles, such as the Klatskin (BD), have gauges that are thicker than the needles