Image-guided percutaneous needle biopsy: an overview.

Image-guided percutaneous needle biopsy (IGPNB) is a valuable tool for diagnosis of nonpalpable or deep-seated lesions that cannot be characterized definitively with diagnostic imaging alone. The procedure entails inserting a needle through the skin into an area of suspected pathology under the guidance of various imaging techniques to retrieve a sample of tissue or fluid for analysis. This article discusses the historical development, indications, contraindications, patient preparation, equipment and possible complications of IGPNB, with particular attention to biopsies of the thorax, breast, abdominal organs, head and neck and the musculoskeletal system.