Superiority of laparoscopic guided needle biopsy over percutaneous blind needle biopsy in diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma associated with cirrhosis.

This is a retrospective study of 40 patients clinically suspected of having hepatocellular carcinoma. Group 1 (20) patients underwent laparoscopic Tru-cut needle liver biopsy and Group II (20 patients) underwent percutaneous blind needle liver biopsy. In the first group, in 17 (85%) of the patients, the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma was confirmed by histopathology, direct observation of cirrhosis was seen in 8 (40%) patients, histopathology confirmation of cirrhosis was documented in 6 (35%) patients. In the second group, 14 (70%) of the patients were confirmed to have hepatocellular carcinoma histopathologically and no patients confirmed to have cirrhosis. Both procedures were safe. While ascitic leak from the infraumbilical incision was the only complication encountered in the 1st group, no complications were encountered in the 2nd group. The results support the premise that laparoscopy directed cutting needle biopsy is superior over other techniques in fulfilling all the diagnostic requirements for hepatocelullar carcinoma and associated liver cirrhosis which is important for surgical liver resection.