Image-guided percutaneous liver biopsy in hepatosplenic gamma-delta T-cell lymphoma: a single centre experience.

OBJECTIVE: This study was to determine whether Image-Guided Percutaneous Liver Biopsy (IGPLB) is a safe and accurate procedure in patients with Hepatosplenic Gamma-Delta T-Cell Lymphoma (HSTCL) characterized by hepatosplenomegaly, and provide a rapid and safe diagnostic approach in this rare group of patients with a generally poor outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report five patients who underwent IGPLB for an initial diagnosis of HSTCL, in whom diagnosis by bone marrow biopsy and blood smear had failed. The patients presented with fever of undetermined origin, fatigue, night sweats and abdominal pain. Percutaneous liver biopsies were performed following location of the puncture point under the guidance of computed tomography (CT) or ultrasonography (US). RESULTS: CT and US can detect prominent hepatosplenomegaly without significant lymphadenopathy. IGPLB, assessed by immunohistochemical and molecular pathological analyses, was then performed without complications, which resulted in the diagnosis of HSTCL and facilitated treatment in a timely manner. CONCLUSIONS: IGPLB is a safe and accurate procedure in patients with suspected underlying malignant lymphoma characterized by hepatosplenomegaly, especially in those without readily accessible tissue amenable to biopsy.