From the Research
Safety of CT-Guided Biopsies of Colon Masses
- The safety of CT-guided biopsies of colon masses has been evaluated in several studies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
- A study published in the Journal of computer assisted tomography in 2000 found that CT-guided core biopsy of gastrointestinal wall lesions, including colon lesions, is safe and accurate, with a complication rate of 0% in 19 colon biopsies 2.
- Another study published in the Sao Paulo medical journal in 2006 reported a low complication rate for CT-guided biopsies, including abdominal and retroperitoneal biopsies, with only two cases of major bleeding and one case of peritonitis among 1,300 procedures 3.
- A study published in the Journal of medical screening in 2010 found that the risk of colonic perforation after CT colonography is low, with an incidence of 0.06% in 3,458 procedures, and identified risk factors such as age, recent colonoscopy, and manual colonic insufflation 4.
- While these studies provide evidence on the safety of CT-guided biopsies, it is essential to note that the safety of the procedure may depend on various factors, including the expertise of the radiologist and the specific technique used.
Complication Rates
- The complication rates reported in the studies are generally low, with few cases of major bleeding, peritonitis, or colonic perforation 2, 3, 4.
- A study published in the Journal of thoracic imaging in 2015 reported a complication rate of 7% for CT-guided mediastinal core needle biopsies, but most complications were minor and only two patients required hospitalization for more than 12 hours 5.
- The low complication rates reported in these studies suggest that CT-guided biopsies of colon masses can be a safe procedure when performed by experienced radiologists using appropriate techniques.