17  Probes and Biopsy
Operator’s Manual 17 - 17
• Adjust the needle mark before the biopsy procedure is performed.
• When performing biopsy procedures, use only sterile ultrasound gel that is 
certified to be safe. And manage the ultrasound gel properly to ensure that 
it does not become a source of infection.
• When performing the operation concerning biopsy, wear sterile gloves.
• Image of the biopsy target and the actual position of the biopsy needle:
Diagnostic ultrasound systems produce tomographic plane images with 
information of a certain thickness in the thickness direction of the probe. 
(That is to say, the information shown in the images consist all the 
information scanned in the thickness direction of the probe.) So, even 
though the biopsy needle appears to have penetrated the target object in 
the image, it may not actually have done so. When the target for biopsy is 
small, dispersion of the ultrasound beam may lead to image deviate from 
the actual position. Pay attention to this.
If the target object and the biopsy needle appear in the image as shown in 
the figures below (For reference only):
The biopsy needle may not have actually entered the target object even 
though it appears to have done so in the image. To avoid this, note the 
points below:
– Do not rely only on the needle tip in the image. Pay careful attention to 
the fact that when the biopsy needle enters the target object or comes 
into contact with it, the object should shift slightly.
A The biopsy needle appears to reach 
the target object in the image
B Dispersion of the ultrasound beam
1Biopsy 2Target
3Probe 4Needle
5 Ultrasound beam 6 Target