Ultrasound-guided Bedside Core Needle Biopsy: A Hospitalist Procedure Team's Experience

Cureus. 2019 Jan 3;11(1):e3817. doi: 10.7759/cureus.3817.

Abstract

Tissue pathology is integral for the diagnosis of various conditions, especially malignancy. Traditionally, biopsy procedures, including core needle biopsy (CNB), are performed by surgeons or radiologists. With the increasing utilization of point of care ultrasound (POCUS) skills and competence in bedside procedures by general internists, CNB can be safely moved to the patient's bedside with maintained accuracy and increased cost savings compared to traditional procedural methods. We aim to review the experience of our hospitalist-run medical procedure service in performing these ultrasound-guided procedures at the bedside.

Keywords: bedside procedures; core biopsy; cost savings; needle biopsy; point of care ultrasound.