title: Transmucosal core needle biopsy: a novel diagnostic approach to oral and oropharyngeal lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oral and oropharyngeal tumors have often been characterized by a deep submucosal growth pattern under an intact mucous membrane. This will be particularly true for lesions of the tongue and could be associated with relevant difficulties regarding diagnosis and treatment planning. We hypothesized that the transoral transmucosal application of a core needle biopsy (CNB) for lesions of the tongue, the base of the tongue, and the floor of the mouth could be of considerable clinical usefulness for many patients. It has only previously been described in single cases and has not yet been separately discussed.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report on the novel transoral use of CNB during rigid endoscopy with the patient under general anesthesia, with an emphasis on lesions of the tongue. A series of cases and illustrative patients are presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Transmucosal CNB was accurate and of considerable clinical usefulness in all cases. The relevant advantages of this technique compared with conventional biopsy using biopsy forceps and transmucosal fine needle aspiration are presented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The transoral transmucosal approach to the submucosal space of the oral cavity and the oropharynx has further extended the field of application of CNB. In selected patients, this CNB approach offers essential diagnostic benefits, in particular, for tumors of the tongue.
authors.affiliation: Doctor, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. Electronic address: jens.pfeiffer@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Carsten C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Boedeker
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerd J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Ridder
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology