Table 2.

Summary table for needle tract seeding by HCC.

Etiology	Adhesion of tumor cells to biopsy needle and relocation of tumor cells via post-biopsy bleeding
Incidence	Exact incidence unknown. Estimates vary from 0 to 11%. Probably approximately 1.7% or less.
Gender ratio	No known gender predilection.
Age predilection	No known age predilection.
Risk factors	Possible risk factors for needle tract seeding include larger needle diameter, more needle passes, patient immunosuppression, and tumor aggressiveness
Treatment	Excision, embolization, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy.
Prognosis	Not extensively studied. Wide en-bloc excision improves prognosis.
Findings on imaging	Enhancing nodule along biopsy tract. Similar characteristics as intrahepatic HCC.