CT-Guided Core Needle Biopsy of Deep Suprahyoid Head and Neck Lesions in Untreated Patients

Abstract

<jats:p> This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of CT-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) in the diagnosis of deep head and neck tumors in untreated patients. </jats:p><jats:p> We retrospectively reviewed the records of ten consecutive CT-guided CNB procedures from ten patients without a related history from March 2004 to February 2012. The surgical results, treatment response and clinical follow-up were used as the diagnostic standards. All specimens were considered adequate. Nine out of ten cases matched the final diagnosis. Biopsy failed to diagnose the infratemporal meningioma en plaque in a particular case. Three cases were carcinomas. No complication was encountered. </jats:p><jats:p> CT-guided core needle biopsy is an efficient and safe technique for histological diagnosis of skull base lesions in patients without a related history. This technique can offer a definite tissue diagnosis and avoid unnecessary surgical interventions for such patients. </jats:p>

Computed tomography-guided percutaneous biopsy of head and neck masses: techniques, outcomes, and complications

“…In the present study, we have reported the results of 74 CT-guided percutaneous core-needle biopsies performed in patients with suspicious masses in the deep spaces of the head and neck, a sample larger than those evaluated in previous studies (1,(10)(11)(12) . Sufficient material for histological analysis was obtained in all cases.…”

“…That is comparable to the 96.6% observed in our subgroup of 59 biopsies of masses in the suprahyoid space. In another study, Wu et al (11) found that core-needle biopsy resulted in a correct diagnosis in 9 of 10 patients with masses at the base of the skull and no known history of cancer. In a study of 15 biopsies of the deep spaces of the face and skull base in a mixed patient population (i.e., with and without a known history of cancer, as in the present study), Connor et al (10) reported a diagnostic accuracy of 87%.…”

“…Factors that may be associated with lower success rates in obtaining material were described in the study conducted by Cunningham et al (18) , who reported correct diagnoses in 73% of 22 CT-guided core-needle biopsies of the deep face and skull base. In that study, the institutional biopsy protocol involved the use of a semi-automated biopsy device with an 18-gauge needle, which yielded an average of two fragments per procedure, and the coaxial technique, as described by Connor et al (10) and Wu et al (1,11) , was employed in only five of the 22 cases evaluated. The authors found that, in 50% of cases in which specimens were insufficient for diagnosis, only one fragment had been obtained, compared with two to three fragments in the cases in which the specimens were sufficient for diagnosis.…”

“…Complications after head and neck biopsies are rare and are usually of little clinical significance (1,8,11,19) . They most commonly consist of pain, vasovagal reaction, infections, and minor bleeding.…”

“…They most commonly consist of pain, vasovagal reaction, infections, and minor bleeding. According to some authors, a history of surgery or radiotherapy increases the odds of vascular complications (11) . Cranial nerve injury leading to motor or sensory deficits is uncommon in the literature (10) .…”