Ultrasound-guided core-needle biopsy is effective in the initial diagnosisof lymphoma patients

Background and Objective. With the development and refinement of new guidan ce methods for percutaneous biopsies, many investigators have reported stud ies supporting a role for radiologically guided core-needle biopsy in the d iagnosis of malignant lymphoma under certain clinical circumstances. The ai ms of this report are to evaluate the efficacy of findings at ultrasound (U S)-guided core-needle biopsy of abdominal lymphoma on patient care and defi ne the key determinants of clinical success. Design and Methods. US-guided core needle biopsies were performed in 55 pat ients with abdominal lymphoma: 44 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and 11 Hodgk in's disease (HD); 41 had had no prior lymphoma and 14 had previously diagn osed lymphoma. All the biopsies were performed under US control using a 21- gauge modified Menghini needle. Overall, 53/55 (96%) patients were treated on the basis of biopsy findings only, including 14/14 (100%) patients with a history of lymphoma and 39/41 (93%) patients with no such history. Results. In 46/53 (87%) patients it was possible to assess the specific his totype. No differences between the diagnostic rates of no and high grade-NH L were recorded. There were no complications related to the biopsies. Interpretation and Conclusions. Our data indicate that abdominal US-guided core-needle biopsy should be considered as an effective and safe procedure in the diagnosis of patients with lymphoma offering the possibility of dete rmining the tumor subtype and the subsequent specific treatment. (C)1998, F errata Storti Foundation.