The use of ultrasound-guided cutting-needle biopsy in paediatric neck masses

Objective: Neck masses are common in children. Although there is a low inci dence of therapeutically significant pathology biopsy is occasionally requi red for evaluation. Open biopsy or fine needle aspiration may be used to ob tain tissue. Open biopsy provides material suitable for histological analys is but requires general anaesthesia. Cytological material obtained by fine needle aspiration is often inconclusive. A core of histological material ma y also be obtained by percutaneous cutting-needle biopsy; a recognised proc edure at other anatomical sites, usually performed under focal anaesthesia. Materials and Methods: There are few accounts using cutting needles in adul t neck masses and no previous paediatric series. We present our experience of ultrasound-guided core biopsies of neck masses in 15 children ranging in age from three months to 16 years. Results: Thirteen biopsies were easily performed without sedation as an out patient procedure under topical and injected local anaesthetic. In all fift een cases the procedure was well tolerated and a tissue successfully obtain ed. Conclusion: Ultrasound guided cutting needle biopsies of head and neck mass es of children can be performed under local anaesthesia in the majority of cases.