Improved tissue sections for medical liver biopsies: a comparison of 16 vs 18 g biopsy needles using digital pathology.

Background: Most medical liver biopsies in the UK are now taken in radiology departments using 18 g biopsy needles. Subjectively, the resulting biopsies are narrow and fragile.

Aim: To compare the quality of liver biopsy tissue sections obtained from 16 and 18 g biopsy needles.