Fine-needle aspiration biopsy for the measurement of hepatic iron concentration

Olynyk, J., Williams, P., Fudge, A., Pulbrook, S., Kerr, R., Mackinnon, M. and Hall, P. (2005) Fine-needle aspiration biopsy for the measurement of hepatic iron concentration. Hepatology, 15 (3). pp. 502-506.

Abstract

The potential application of fine-needle aspiration liver biopsy in the documentation of hepatic iron overload has been assessed in iron-loaded rats. Fineneedle aspiration and standard liver biopsy specimens were obtained from three groups of animals supplemented with oral and parenteral iron for 2 to 6 mo. The mean dry weights of standard and fine-needle biopsy specimens were 7.41 ± 0.77 (± S.E.M.) and 0.57 ± 0.54 mg, respectively. Hepatic iron in fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimens correlated significantly with hepatic iron in standard liver biopsy specimens as measured by biochemical determination, computerized image analysis and histological grading (r > 0.9, p < 0.001). In conclusion, we have shown that fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the liver can obtain sufficient tissue for biochemical measurement of the hepatic iron concentration in an animal model of iron overload. The clinical applications of fine-needle aspiration liver biopsy in human beings with iron overload is currently being investigated.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publisher:	John Wiley & Sons Inc.
Copyright:	© 1992 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc.
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/19957

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