title: Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS)-guided biopsy is safe and effective in diagnosing peritoneal carcinomatosis and recurrent pelvic malignancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess safety and accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS)-guided biopsy in achieving a diagnosis of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study comprising a cohort of 54 consecutive women aged 18-85 years referred from the gynaecological oncology multidisciplinary team meeting (MDTM) who attended for TVUS-guided biopsy procedures in a tertiary oncology centre over a 4-year period (2010-2014). Clinicopathological validation was assessed using online patient records and radiological information systems. An independent oncologist assessed patient outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The procedure was successful in all 19 patients with suspected recurrent malignancy with diagnosis validated against previous histology. Successful histological confirmation was achieved in 31 of 35 patients with suspected PC, which was thereafter validated by histology from subsequent surgery and favourable response to site-specific therapies (n=22). In three patients with suspected PC, the procedure did not result in biopsy as a suitable target could not be identified. Another woman had two false-negative biopsies. Thus overall a site-specific and subtype cancer diagnosis was obtained for 50 women giving an overall patient success rate of 93% (50/54). There were no procedure-related complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TVUS core biopsy is a safe, effective, well-tolerated, and valuable technique in modern oncological management of PC when other diagnostic options are unavailable.
authors: Department of Radiology, St James's University Hospital, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK. Electronic address: drdadayal@gmail.com.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Dadayal
authors: Department of Radiology, St James's University Hospital, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Weston
authors: Department of Oncology, St James's University Hospital, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Young
authors: Department of Histopathology, St James's University Hospital, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK.
authors: J L
authors: JL
authors: Graham
authors: Department of Radiology, St James's University Hospital, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Mehta
authors: Department of Histopathology, St James's University Hospital, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Wilkinson
authors: Department of Radiology, St James's University Hospital, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK.
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Spencer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061705:Image-Guided Biopsy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult