Complications of liver biopsy: the incidence of pneumothorax and role of post biopsy chest x-ray.

The incidence of pneumothorax and role of post biopsy chest x-ray were assessed in a prospective study of 120 consecutive patients using a standard biopsy technique. The incidence of pneumothorax was 0.8%. Post biopsy chest x-ray was not found to improve accuracy of diagnosis compared with clinical findings. Patients over the age of 60 years were at greater risk of pulmonary complications following liver biopsy.