THE USE OF ULTRASOUND-GUIDED CUTTING-NEEDLE BIOPSY IN THE NECK

Histological analysis of an abnormal neck mass has traditionally requi red an excision biopsy under general anaesthetic, We evaluated the saf ety and accuracy of a new spring loaded cutting-needle for obtaining t issues cores of neck masses under ultrasound (US) guidance. Sixty biop sies were performed on an outpatient basis under local anaesthesia in 52 patients referred with a neck mass, Patients ranged in age from 10 months to 89 years and masses varied in size from 5mm to 5cm. Fifty-ei ght of the 60 biopsies provided a diagnostic histological specimen, Of the remaining two patients, one required open biopsy and the other re turned for a second needle biopsy, All five cases of lymphoma were cor rectly diagnosed on needle biopsy; in three cases full tumour sub-clas sification was possible but in two patients an open biopsy was subsequ ently required, in 39 patients the needle biopsy obviated the need for a surgical biopsy for diagnostic purposes, although in 12 cases a the rapeutic excision biopsy was performed. Apart from one subclinical hae matoma, visualized on US, there were no immediate or delayed complicat ions, In all patients, the histological diagnosis was compatible with subsequent clinical, radiological, surgical or autopsy findings. Cutti ng-needle biopsy of neck masses under US guidance is an effective and safe procedure which should be considered before resorting to routine surgery.