Table 3.

Comparison between percutaneous liver biopsy and transjugular liver biopsy

	PLB	TJLB
Localization	May be image-guided or ‘blind’ (using physical exam to localize)	Localization with fluoroscopy is not as accurate
Technical factors	Shorter (mean 10 min), may have radiation (CT-guided) exposure	Longer (mean 22 min), radiation exposure
Diagnostic yield and accuracy	Higher diagnostic yield because of parenchymal image guidance, and typically larger needle caliber (18 gauge or higher)	Comparatively, less diagnostic accuracy because a smaller needle caliber is used
Cost	Lower cost	Higher cost
Complications	Pain is more commonly reported than with TJLB	Bleeding risk is comparable with PLB
Coagulopathy	Lower threshold for correction (INR: 1.5; platelets: ≤50 000–70 000)	Higher threshold for correction (INR: 1.7–1.9; platelets: ≤50 000)
Other	Useful for evaluation of hepatic masses	Useful to measure HVPG and assess hepatic vascular structures

HVPG, hepatic venous pressure gradient; INR, international normalized ratio; PLB, percutaneous liver biopsy; TJLB, transjugular liver biopsy.