title: CT-guided core needle biopsy of deep suprahyoid head and neck lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of computer tomography (CT)-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) in the diagnosis of deep suprahyoid lesions in patients with treated head and neck cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between December, 2003 and May, 2011, 28 CT-guided CNBs were performed in 28 patients with deep suprahyoid head and neck lesions. All patients had undergone treatment for head and neck cancers. Subzygomatic, paramaxillary, and retromandibular approaches were used. The surgical results, response to treatment, and clinical follow-up were used as the diagnostic reference standards.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All biopsies yielded adequate specimens for definitive histological diagnoses. A specimen from a right parapharyngeal lesion showed atypia, which was deemed a false negative diagnosis. Diagnostic accuracy was 27/28 (96.4%). Two minor complications were encountered: a local hematoma and transient facial palsy. Between the 18 or 20 gauge biopsy needles, there was no statistical difference in the diagnostic results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT-guided core needle biopsy, with infrequent and minor complications, is an accurate and efficient method for the histological diagnosis of deep suprahyoid lesions in post-treated head and neck cancer patients. This procedure can preclude an unnecessary surgical intervention, especially in patients with head and neck cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging and Internvetion, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan.
authors.forename: En-Haw
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yao-Liang
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yi-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yu-Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ho-Fai
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Shu-Hang
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
keywords: CT-guided needle biopsy; Core needle biopsy; Head and neck; Neoplasms; Skull base