Efficacy and Safety of Percutaneous Liver Biopsy With Needle Tract Plugging on Outpatient Basis

A prospective, randomized, two-arm, single-center study to compare efficacy and safety of percutaneous ultrasound-guided liver biopsy of conventional method (multiple liver punctures) versus coaxial method followed by needle tract plugging.

Inclusion Criteria:All adult patients aged 19 years or older in this institutionPatients referred for imaging-guided percutaneous liver biopsy requiring three or more tissue coresPatients who understand and consent to enrollment in this studyTarget lesion diameter 1cm or larger, and the lesion is approachable under ultrasonography-guidance.Exclusion Criteria:Patients with severe psychologic disorder or mental retardationPatients with poor cooperationSevere coagulopathyHepatobiliary obstructionAcute hepatobiliary infectionLarge amount of ascitesAmyloidosisPatients on antiplatelet/anticoagulant medication that cannot be discontinued for a specified period of timeOther patients whom the researchers deem ineligible