[Value and utility of minimal-invasive automatic cutting-needle biopsy as a diagnostic technique in the head and neck].

BACKGROUND: Lymphadenopathies and unclear masses in the head and neck often require tissue sampling to establish a diagnosis and to guide therapy. Open biopsy and lymph node excision is invasive and may entail general anaesthesia. Fine needle aspiration cytology is minimal-invasive and widely used but includes a high rate of non diagnostic samples and false negative results. Cutting needle biopsy is an established technique outside the head and neck but has found little attention among otorhinolaryngologists up to now.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between April 2003 and May 2007 we performed a total of 307 cutting-needle biopsies in 143 patients with unclear cervicofacial masses, using side-notch-needles with a diameter of 12-16 Gauge.

RESULTS: High-quality tissue cores without crushing artefacts for histopathological studies were obtained without complications from all patients. The target tissue was obtained in 132 of 143 patients, in these cases the sensitivity and accuracy rate for the diagnosis of malignant lesions was 98.9% and 99.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided Cutting-needle biopsy in the head and neck is a safe and reliable biopsy tool with an excellent diagnostic efficacy, which can be performed as an outpatient procedure with low expenditure of time and manpower. Performing the procedure requires substantiated experience in topographic head and neck anatomy as well as sonography of this body region.