A needle for collecting a sample of a target tissue in a patient, comprising a hollow cannula configured to removably receive a stylet therein for insertion of the needle into the patient; wherein the cannula has an open proximal end, an opposing open distal end, and a lumen extending between the open proximal end and the open distal end; wherein the lumen defines an inner surface; wherein the inner surface has at least one inner surface feature adjacent to the open distal end for engaging with the target tissue after removal of the stylet, and for retaining the sample during withdrawal of the cannula from the patient; wherein the at least one inner surface feature provides a discontinuity on the inner surface; wherein the needle further comprises the stylet and wherein said stylet has a substantially solid shaft with a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the solid shaft being dimensioned to be received within the cannula and the distal end of the stylet being configured to pierce the target tissue; characterized in that said at least one inner surface feature comprises a groove disposed on a plane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cannula; and further characterized in that the solid shaft comprises a first material having a radiopacity lower thar the radiopacity of stainless steel, such that an appearance of the solid shaft generated by the CT imaging apparatus presents reduced imaging artifacts; in that the solid shaft further comprising at least one particle of a second material embedded in the first material for defining an interface between the first material and the second material; and in that the second material has a density lower than the density of the first material, such that the interface increases the visibility of the stylet under an acoustic imaging modality. wherein the cannula has an open proximal end, an opposing open distal end, and a lumen extending between the open proximal end and the open distal end; wherein the lumen defines an inner surface; wherein the inner surface has at least one inner surface feature adjacent to the open distal end for engaging with the target tissue after removal of the stylet, and for retaining the sample during withdrawal of the cannula from the patient; wherein the at least one inner surface feature provides a discontinuity on the inner surface; wherein the needle further comprises the stylet and wherein said stylet has a substantially solid shaft with a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the solid shaft being dimensioned to be received within the cannula and the distal end of the stylet being configured to pierce the target tissue; characterized in that said at least one inner surface feature comprises a groove disposed on a plane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cannula; and further characterized in that the solid shaft comprises a first material having a radiopacity lower thar the radiopacity of stainless steel, such that an appearance of the solid shaft generated by the CT imaging apparatus presents reduced imaging artifacts; in that the solid shaft further comprising at least one particle of a second material embedded in the first material for defining an interface between the first material and the second material; and in that the second material has a density lower than the density of the first material, such that the interface increases the visibility of the stylet under an acoustic imaging modality.