A retrospective analysis on the diagnostic value of ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy for peritoneal lesions

BACKGROUND: Routine examinations have a low specificity and a low positive rate for the diagnosis of peritoneal lesions. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous peritoneal lesion biopsies in patients with ascites and/or abdominal distension with unclear causes. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed in 153 consecutive patients with ascites and/or abdominal distension with unclear causes. All of the patients showed abnormalities of the peritoneum or greater omentum after ultrasonography, and underwent ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsies using a Bard auto-biopsy gun with 18- or 16-gauge biopsy needles. RESULTS: The success rate of the procedures was 100% (153/153) and the satisfaction rate of the tissue specimens in the biopsy was 91.5% (140/153). A specific histopathological diagnosis was made in 142 out of 153 patients, with an overall diagnostic accuracy of 92.8%. Among the diagnosed patients, 62 were peritoneal metastatic adenocarcinoma, 49 were peritoneal tuberculosis, 11 were peritoneal malignant mesothelioma, 8 were chronic peritoneal infections, 7 were pseudomyxoma peritonei, and 5 were primary peritoneal lymphoma. Only 11 patients did not get a pathologic diagnosis due to the lack of sufficient tissue specimen. No serious complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy could be a simple, safe and accurate diagnostic method in patients with ascites and/or abdominal distension with unclear causes.