Percutaneous coaxial needle biopsy using the spacer technique: a novel and easy modification to increase procedure safety.

We describe a novel but easy modification to percutaneous coaxial needle biopsy technique using readily available standard equipment to enable a predefined variable sampling length to be achieved. This technique involves the insertion of a carefully measured spacer between the coaxial cutting needle and guide needle. This can minimise the sampling length required to biopsy any given lesion, minimising the volume of traumatised tissue and preventing unnecessary penetration of tissues deep to smaller lesions, thus increasing procedure safety.