Percutaneous fine needle biopsy is now an established routine diagnostic procedure in the armamentarium of radiology and represents the quickest and safest way to establish the cytologic and histologic diagnosis of a pathologic process in almost any organ in the body. This technique has blossomed with the use of needle guidance by cross-sectional imaging modalities, which ensure accurate placement of the biopsy needle in the target. Unquestionably the procedure is a safe one; clearly however, it is not free of serious complications, including death, and should be undertaken only when clinically indicated. The literature has been reviewed and includes single institutional series and a series of questionnaires both in this country and in Europe, confirming the overall safety of the procedure, and presents some statistical analyses that point to possible ways to avoid these complications.