Tru-cut needle improves laparoscopic liver biopsy in buffaloes

Laparoscopic liver biopsy with a 14-gauge tru-cut needle produced the best-quality liver samples in buffaloes, outperforming Babcock forceps and laparoscopic biopsy forceps in a prospective experimental comparison summarized by Latest Results. The study found the tru-cut approach delivered more diagnostically useful specimens and significantly fewer artifacts than the forceps-based methods, supporting it as the preferred instrument for laparoscopic liver biopsy in this species. That finding builds on a broader body of veterinary and medical literature showing that core needle techniques can improve tissue adequacy for histopathology, while laparoscopic access offers direct visualization of the liver during sampling. (kvmj.journals.ekb.eg)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals working in large animal medicine and surgery, sample quality is the difference between a useful biopsy and a repeat procedure. Buffaloes can present with a range of hepatobiliary disorders, and prior buffalo research has highlighted the clinical importance of accurate liver assessment in animals with weight loss, reduced milk yield, hepatomegaly, and other nonspecific signs. A technique that reduces crush artifact and improves diagnostic yield could help clinicians get to histopathology answers faster, with fewer nondiagnostic samples and less procedural inefficiency. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

What to watch: The next step will be whether follow-up studies confirm these sample-quality findings in clinical cases, not just experimental settings, and report complication rates, learning curve, and field-level practicality. (kvmj.journals.ekb.eg)