Safety of biopsy in phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma: an international, multicentre, retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND

Biopsy of phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) is discouraged due to the perceived risk of catecholamine-related complications. However, a systematic review showed that this recommendation is primarily supported by case reports. We aimed to assess the safety of percutaneous biopsy in patients with PPGLs.

METHODS

This international, multicentre, retrospective study included patients of any age with PPGLs referred to participating centres who had had percutaneous core-needle biopsy or fine-needle aspiration. Biopsies of head and neck paragangliomas were excluded. Participating centres completed standardised data-collection forms. The primary outcome was biopsy-related mortality rate for all patients who had biopsies performed at participating centres, given that biopsies done elsewhere that had fatal outcomes would be unlikely to be referred. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of serious catecholamine-related and non-catecholamine-related complications among all included patients.

FINDINGS: Between Sep 1, 1993, and May 31, 2025, 222 patients (110 [50%] female, 112 [50%] male) underwent 234 biopsies in 19 hospitals across 11 countries. 139 (67%) of 207 patients had elevated epinephrine or norepinephrine (or metabolites) and 27 (12%) of 232 biopsies were preceded by the administration of α-adrenoceptor blockade. One (mortality rate 0·9% [95% CI 0·0-5·1]) of 106 biopsies led to death due to biopsy-related infection. Serious catecholamine-related complications occurred after four (1·7% [0·5-4·3]) of 233 biopsies and included tachyarrhythmia, hypertensive crisis, and cardiogenic shock. No serious catecholamine-related complications occurred in patients without catecholamine excess (n=59), receiving fine-needle aspiration (n=46), or after biopsy of metastatic lesions (n=114). Serious non-catecholamine-related complications occurred after ten (4·3% [2·1-7·8]) of 233 biopsies, mainly bleeding and infection.

INTERPRETATION: Percutaneous biopsy of PPGLs was associated with a low mortality rate. Serious complication rates were also low, most of which were not catecholamine-related. These findings challenge current recommendations that biopsy should be avoided in suspected or confirmed PPGLs, and instead support a personalised, risk-benefit-based approach to the procedure.

FUNDING: Cancerfonden.

TRANSLATIONS: For the Chinese and French translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.