Ultrasonographic guidance in diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in diseases of the internal organs

A hundred fifty four invasive diagnostic and therapeutical interventions were made in patients with diseases of the abdomen and retroperitoneal space under ultrasonographic guidance. Various biopsies were performed in 139 patients; positive results were achieved in 120 (86.3%) cases. In 15 patients, diagnostic biopsies were combined with therapeutical interventions, such as aspiration of cysts in the liver (n = 3) and kidney (n = 2); drainage of abscesses in the abdomen (n = 5) and liver (n = 5). Fourteen patients with mechanical jaundice caused by extrahepatic bile duct tumors or pancreatic head cancer underwent percutaneous transhepatic cholecystocholangiography followed by external drainage. Percutaneous transhepatic drainage of the gallbladder was made in 1 patient with acute cholecystitis.