19Gauge Fine Needle Biopsy (FNB) Versus 22Gauge FNB for Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Liver Biopsy (EUS-LB)

19Gauge Fine Needle Biopsy (FNB) Versus 22Gauge FNB for Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Liver Biopsy (EUS-LB): A Randomized Prospective Trial

To determine the adequacy of EUS-LB using a 19G core needle compared to a 22G core needle in a prospective randomized study.

The 19Gauge core and 22Gauge core needles have both been used for EUS-LB with good success. Previous studies have reported good safety and tissue adequacy with both the needles, but the head-on comparison between these two needles is lacking.

This is a prospective randomized trial comparing the biopsy specimen adequacy of 19Gauge versus 22Gauge core needles for EUS-LB.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients undergoing EUS-LB
• Platelet Count > 50,000
• International normalized ratio (INR) < 1.5
• Age > 18 years of age
• Non-Pregnant Patients

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age < 18 Years of Age
• Pregnant Patients
• Inability to obtain consent
• Anticoagulants or anti-platelet agents (excluding aspirin) within the last 7 -10 days
• Platelet count < 50,000
• Presence of Ascites
• Known Liver Cirrhosis