A AB BS S T TR RA AC CT T O Ob bj je ec ct ti iv ve e: : The aim of this study was to evaluate effecacy and safety of percutaneous liver biopsy performed under the assistance of ultrasonography in diffuse liver disease. M Ma at te er ri ia al l a an nd d M Me et th ho od ds s: : This was a retrospective study. We evaluated the ultrasound-assisted liver biopsy procedures of 784 patients which were performed in an outpatient setting between October 2001 and July 2008. The liver biopsies were performed following one-night fasting using disposable Menghinitype suction needles (16 gauge) after marking the best seen part of the best-thickest liver part distant from the adjacent organs. Liver portion suitable for biopsy was marked in the intercostal area by the use of ultrasonography and performed by an experienced gastroenterologist. After the biopsies, the vital signs of all patients were monitored for 6-8 hours. The patients without any problems were discharged on the same day. The shapes, sizes and number of the biopsy specimens were recorded, and then they were sent to the pathology department for histolopathological examination. The next day, control ultrasounds of all patients were performed. R Re es su ul lt ts s: : Macroscopically adequate tissue was obtained in 780 cases (99.5%) with a mean tissue length of 15.5 mm. In 755 patients (96.4%), adequate tissue sample was obtained after one pass. After the procedure, severe pain requiring analgesia was seen in 13 patients (1.6%). There was no complication requiring hospitalisation. Major complication requiring intervention occurred in only one patient with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis (0.12%). There were no deaths resulting from liver biopsies. C Co on n--c cl lu us si io on n: : According to the results of our series, we conclude that routine ultrasound of the puncture site is a quick, effective and, safe procedure. The complication rate is very low. The ultrasound assisted percutaneous liver biopsy modality should be used to all cases. K Ke ey y W Wo or rd ds s: : Liver; biopsy, needle; ultrasonography; complications Ö ÖZ ZE ET T A Am ma aç ç: : Diffüz karaciğer hastalıklarında perkütan karaciğer biyopsilerinin ultrasonografi kıla-vuzluğunda yapılması durumunda, etkinliğinin ve güvenilirliğinin değerlendirilmesidir. G Ge er re eç ç v ve e Y Yö ön nt te em ml le er r: : Bu geriye dönük çalışmada 2001 Ekim ile 2008 Temmuz ayları arasında, ayakta takip edilen 784 hastanın ultrasonografi kılavuzluğunda yaptığımız karaciğer biyopsisi işlemini değerlen-dirdik. Biyopsiler, bir gecelik açlığı takiben, ultrasonografi deneyimi olan gastroenterologlar tarafından karaciğerin en iyi-kalın ve komşu organlardan uzak kısmının en iyi görüldüğü yerin interkostal alanda işaretlenmesinden sonra, tek kullanımlık Menghini tipi biyopsi iğneleri (16 gauge) kullanılarak yapıldı. Biyopsilerden sonra, 6-8 saat boyunca, tüm hastaların yaşamsal bulguları takip edildi. Herhangi bir sorun gelişmeyen hastalar aynı gün taburcu edildi. Biyopsi örneklerinin şekil-leri, büyüklükle...