Technical Note. Artificial Paravertebral Widening for Percutaneous CT-Guided Adrenal Biopsy

Abstract

A percutaneous adrenal biopsy under CT guidance is described. The biopsy was performed after injection of physiologic saline solution into the paravertebral space, creating a wider pathway for needle insertion. This technique has been previously reported for biopsy of thoracic lesions, but in our case it was used for biopsy of a relatively inaccessible adrenal lesion. This artificial window that is formed by displacing the pleura laterally allows a direct and potentially safer access route to the retroperitoneum, avoiding puncture of pleura, diaphragm, and abdominal structures.