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Ultrasound core biopsies of neck lumps: an experience from a tertiary head and neck cancer unit

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 July 2021

M Adeel ,
R Jackson ,
T Peachey  and
N Beasley
M Adeel*
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Sheffield, UK
R Jackson
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Sheffield, UK
T Peachey
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Sheffield, UK
N Beasley
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Sheffield, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Mr Mohammad Adeel, Department of ENT, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Duckworth Lane, Bradford BD9 6RJ, UK E-mail: Mohammad.adeel@nhs.net
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Abstract

Background

Traditionally, fine needle aspiration cytology was the primary diagnostic investigation for head and neck lumps; however, ultrasound-guided core biopsy offers the advantage of preserving tissue architecture with increased tissue yield. This study reviews the diagnostic utility of ultrasound-guided core biopsy for investigating head and neck lumps.

Methods

Overall, 287 ultrasound-guided core biopsies were reviewed between May 2017 and April 2019 at a single tertiary site for head and neck cancer.

Results

On initial ultrasound-guided core biopsy, a diagnostic sample was obtained in 94.4 per cent of patients and in 83.7 per cent of patients with lymphoma. Where the initial ultrasound-guided core biopsy was non-diagnostic, 50 per cent of samples were diagnostic on repeat ultrasound-guided core biopsy. Overall, five complications were seen related to ultrasound-guided core biopsy, and all were managed conservatively. No cases of disease recurrence were identified at the biopsy site.

Conclusion

Ultrasound-guided core biopsy is a safe procedure with a high diagnostic yield when investigating head and neck lumps. Patients whose ultrasound-guided core biopsies were non-diagnostic should be considered for excisional biopsy over repeat ultrasound-guided core biopsy.

Keywords

Core Needle BiopsyNeck LumpLymphoma
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 135 , Issue 9 , September 2021 , pp. 799 - 803
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

Mr M Adeel takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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