title: Computed tomography--guided needle biopsy of head and neck lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of computed tomography (CT)-guided needle biopsies of head and neck lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  All CT-guided needle biopsies of head and neck lesions performed between September 1994 and February 1999 were included. Cytopathologic and histologic records, along with patient clinical records, were reviewed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A tertiary care medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients referred for evaluation of lesions inaccessible to routine methods of needle biopsy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-seven patients underwent 42 CT-guided biopsies. There were included 12 lesions in or adjacent to the skull base and 9 lesions around the pharyngoesophageal or laryngotracheal complex; the other lesions were located in the deep lobe of the parotid gland (n = 7), deep neck area (n = 12), and thyroid gland (n = 2). Diagnostic cytologic biopsy specimens were obtained in 38 (91%) of 42 needle biopsy procedures. The results were supported histologically and/or clinically in 36 cases (95%). Eighteen patients underwent open surgical procedures. Histologic confirmation was found in 86% of cases. Nineteen patients (51%) avoided an open surgical procedure: 11 with benign disease and 8 with recurrent malignancy. There were no false-positive or false-negative results, and no complications were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Computed tomography-guided needle biopsy is a safe and reliable minimally invasive technique for the diagnosis of poorly accessible or deep-seated lesions of the head and neck. Diagnostic needle biopsies allow improved preoperative planning and patient counseling in surgical patients and avoidance of open surgical procedures in patients with benign disease or recurrent malignant neoplasms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: DelGaudio
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Dillard
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Albritton
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hudgins
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation*