This procedure has accompanied the birth of Interventional Radiology and has gained wide acceptance for its efficiency in providing an accurate diagnosis.

The biopsy is performed through the skin (percutaneous) from the nearest point to the tumor. Using fluoroscopy, ultrasound or CT scan the introduction of the needle is guided with great precision and in real time. Virtually any tumor image seen by some of these reviews, even very small, can be reached by a needle to obtain a sample.

The fine-needle biopsy (20 to 25g) is used to obtain, by scraping, a few cells, which will be studied by modern techniques of cito-pathology. This should give us information whether the cells are benign or malignant in a patient who has a tumor. In some cases a patient who has a malignant tumor and has undergone chemotherapy treatments, embolization or Radiotherapy sometimos the physicians want to know whether it is active or there is tumor necrosis (destruction of the tumor).

The biopsy needle with coarse (16 to 19g) is used to obtain a larger sample or a cylinder which retains the structure of the cells in the tissue, allowing a precise diagnosis. This should give us important information to offer the best treatment for the patient.

The image-guided percutaneous biopsy is very accurate, requires no cutting, no need for hospitalization and patients return to their normal activities the following day. Usually it is a fairly safe procedure with less than 1% of complications, that provides a precise diagnosis in 90% of patients.

The image-guided percutaneous biopsies have the following advantages:

1 .- The guide leads precise images of the tumor, avoiding vascular and nerve structures. 2.- As it gives greater precision than open surgery, we can avoid major complications.
3 .- The patient has no pain and we use a conscious sedation during the procedure.
4.- Internal scarring and other complications, that can sometimes occur with an open surgery, are avoided.
5 .- It does not require general anesthesia nor hospitalization.